LA Undercover | Film Threat

A cop is given the promotion of a lifetime, but with that promotion comes temptation and compromise in Omar Cook and Adonis Armstrong’s feature film, LA Undercover.

Omar Cook plays Officer Corey Shaw, a young cop who quickly proves himself to be a valuable asset to the department. Out on the mean streets of Los Angeles is the cold-blooded crime lord Kevin “Keys” Lyles (Clay Cureton). Keys and his gang are running lucrative drug running operations, but with the paranoid Keys demanding a larger piece of the action, bodies are starting to pile up on the LA streets. The LAPD needs an inside man in Keys’ operation. Corey Shaw is the right officer for the job.

Seeing the potential to fast-track his career Shaw accepts the undercover offer, but this means he has to separate himself from his girlfriend, Sierra (Ajima Cole), who just revealed she is carrying Shaw’s child. However, her love and prayers for Shaw will keep him strong.

As the operation begins, Shaw quickly finds himself in Keys’ inner circle. But the deeper Shaw gets, the more he realizes that he must commit some horrible and highly illegal acts if he is to keep his cover. The more successful Shaw becomes, the more he loses grip on the good cop he once was and the thug he’s slowly becoming.

For me, it’s just exciting to see the progression of Omar Cook and Adonis Armstrong as filmmakers. I have had the pleasure of reviewing several of their short films and what’s clear is they take their craft very seriously. There’s a clear vision in the kind of stories they tell and how they want to tell them—even with the budget they’ve been given. They’ve also got a solid ensemble to pull from as well. The best part is that these guys are evolving, and LA Undercover is their first feature film (albeit an hour long).

“…Shaw accepts the undercover offer, but this means he has to separate himself from his girlfriend, Sierra…”

The worst thing I can say about LA Undercover is that it looks like a micro-budget indie film. The sets are makeshift. They are in desperate need of quality lighting, and their HD cameras are sufficient, but everyone’s headed to 4K these days.

That’s said. Cook and Armstrong are definitely putting the work into becoming full-fledged filmmakers making the most of their resources. The editing and sound are top-notch. I’m excited to see what Cook and Armstrong have coming next. It takes great discipline to tell your story and stop when it’s done (I’m referring to the sixty-minute runtime). There’s no fluff in this film.

LA Undercover is a straightforward narrative, meaning that each scene exists to propel the narrative. It plays out more like a drama of an undercover cop walking that line of moral compromise. Now the next step is to break up the drama by adding some action…low-budget action to pad that time out to ninety minutes.

What LA Undercover gets right is that it focuses on one character, Det. Corey Shaw, played by Omar Cook. Shaw has a complete character arc, and the film is then built around that arc. He’s a virtuous cop with a loving girlfriend…pregnant girlfriend. Shaw is also good at his job…almost too good. When he begins blurring the line between cop and thug, that’s when the film kicks into high gear.

LA Undercover is the kind of film we appreciate the most at Film Threat. There’s this belief that Hollywood still owns specific genres, and filmmakers like Omar Cook and Adonis Armstrong prove that the tools are available to tell exciting stories with little to no money.

For more information, visit the LA Undercover official webpage.

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December 22, 2022

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Kelsey Leaves & Films Her Final Scene – Hollywood Life

Siesta Keys before the debut of their new season. — Image Credit: MTV

'Siesta Key' stars Juliette Porter, Robby Hayes, Kelsey Owens and Brandon Gomes stop by HollywoodLife. They dished all about season three before the Jan. 7, 2020 premiere. — Image Credit: MTV

The end of Kelsey Owens’ journey on Siesta Key: Miami Moves played out during the Dec. 22 episode. Kelsey bought a new home with her boyfriend, Max, during the episode, and came to the realization that she was ready to move on from the show. With the rest of the cast relocating to Miami for the newest season, Kelsey knew her life was going in a different direction, and she broke down in tears as she shared her decision with Madisson Hausburg during a night out at the club.

“I’ve just been thinking more and more,” Kelsea admitted. “I love this group so much, but with all the big decisions [Max and I] did make, I was like…what’s another one? I decided, I think I’m done with the show. I’m scared s***less, but I know it’s time.” Madisson commended Kelsey for coming to the decision and knowing it was the right time to move onto the next chapter in her life.

“It’s been amazing and I’ve grown up on it, but…” Kelsey said, trailing off. She then continued, “I’m so freakin’ excited to be in a home with my boyfriend, hopefully fiance soon, start a family. I’m ready to move forward from all this, truly. I’m ready.” Kelsey wiped away her tears as she announced the news. “I’m ready,” she confirmed. “I think this weekend really made me realize that it’s time. As hard as it might be, it’s time.” There was also a montage of some of Kelsey’s most memorable moments on the show that played in the midst of her final scene.

Back in August, Kelsey announced on Instagram that her time on the show had come to an end. However, she did not appear to leave on good terms. “Last night I was walking into a scene at a freaking strip club of all places and was informed that I will be cut moving forward on Siesta Key with absolutely no warning,” Kelsey wrote. “It’s mind blowing and truly disgusting that after working on a show since I was 19 years old, where I’ve shared things about my personal life that I wasn’t always comfortable with, revolved my whole life around, and put so much effort into could come to an end in such a disrespectful manner and so abrupt. Not even a simple, ‘thank you for sharing the past 5 years of your life with us.’ I cried my eyes out and then wiped those tears and filmed my last scene the best I could with my head held high.”

In October, HollywoodLife spoke EXCLUSIVELY with Juliette Porter, who clarified some things about Kelsey’s exit, though. Juliette left Kelsey a supportive comment on her Instagram post about exiting the show, but explained that her on/off friend wasn’t as blindsided as she made it seem. “This is a job,” Juliette explained. “We signed contracts and we sign on for a certain amount of episodes. She was signed on for a certain amount of episodes and she had finished that cycle. She had known what she was getting into.”

However, Juliette acknowledged that things weren’t exactly handled fairly. “The way it was delivered to her..I don’t think she was quite prepared to leave [that night],” Juliette added. “But it wasn’t shocking news. She knew what she signed up for, but the way it was delivered to her was not right.”

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December 22, 2022

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View gallery Image Credit: MTV The end of Kelsey Owens’

Tech

Top Gun Maverick Cast and Character Guide: Who Plays Who?

Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise)

Tom Cruise reprises the role of Captain Pete Mitchell, who many think would have been promoted past the status of captain by now. He is more often referred to by his call sign “Maverick,” and now he test-flies cutting edge planes for the navy. Maverick tried his hand at becoming an instructor at Top Gun years ago, but he didn’t fit. That is, until Commander Iceman calls him back to teach the best of the best how to execute one heck of a mission.

Tom Cruise is, of course, one of the biggest movie stars on the planet.

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December 22, 2022

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Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) Tom Cruise

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Ridley Scott Rewrote ‘Napoleon’ for Joaquin Phoenix

After shooting the film, Scott called Phoenix “the most special, thoughtful actor I’ve ever worked with.”

Ridley Scott has spent most of the 2020s directing period pieces ranging from the medieval “The Last Duel” to the 20th-century fashion drama “House of Gucci.” And the 85-year-old director shows no signs of slowing down, as he is currently gearing up to release “Napoleon,” a drama starring Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon Bonaparte.

Scott and Phoenix previously worked together on “Gladiator,” and their collaborative relationship only appears to be improving. In a new interview with Empire, Scott explained how Phoenix’s performance ultimately reshaped the entire film.

“Joaquin is about as far from conventional as you can get. Not deliberately, but out of intuition. That’s what makes him tick. If something bothers him, he’ll let you know,” Scott said. “He made [‘Napoleon’] special by constantly questioning.”

Scott went on to explain that Phoenix’s intuitive understanding of the character meant that many of his script notes were helpful and the entire film ended up being reshaped because of the actor’s interpretation of Napoleon.

“With Joaquin, we can rewrite the goddamn film because he’s uncomfortable. And that kind of happened with ‘Napoleon,’” he said. “We unpicked the film to help him focus on who Bonaparte was. I had to respect that, because what was being said was incredibly constructive. It made it all grow bigger and better.”

The hard work ultimately paid off, and Scott says that he left the film thinking even more highly of Phoenix than he did when they began.

“With Napoleon, I think we dug in and found the character, or as close to what he may have been,” Scott said. “Joaquin is probably the most special, thoughtful actor I’ve ever worked with.”

Countless filmmakers have tried to make movies about Napoleon Bonaparte’s life over the years. Stanley Kubrick famously wrote and planned to direct a hyper-realistic war epic about the French general, and Steven Spielberg tried to turn Kubrick’s script into a miniseries after the legendary director died. Phoenix has been attached to Scott’s film, originally titled “Kitbag,” since 2020.

The film has previously been described as “an original and personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor, viewed through the prism of his addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, Josephine. The intention of the film is to capture Napoleon’s famous battles, relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader and war visionary.”

Apple is expected to release “Napoleon” in 2023.

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December 22, 2022

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After shooting the film, Scott called Phoenix

Entertaintment

2023 Oscars Best Documentary Short Predictions

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages are Davis’ assessment of the current standings of the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any film or performance. Like any organization or body that votes, each individual category is fluid and subject to change. Predictions are updated every Thursday.

LAST UPDATED: Dec. 22, 2022

2023 Oscars Predictions: Best Documentary Short

CATEGORY COMMENTARY: It’s an eclectic mixture of short films in the running for the documentary short race.

The New Yorker’s “Nuisance Bear” is among the most acclaimed, making multiple stops at festivals and picking up various trophies.

Frank Chi’s “38 at the Garden,” looking at the cultural impact of Jeremy Lin during his season on the New York Knicks, is a favorite in the race, especially with Oscar-winner Trayvon Free (“Two Distant Strangers”) onboard as one of the producers.

Heartfelt tales such as “Holding Moses” are heavily featured, focusing on a woman dealing with grief and trying to connect with her disabled son. Jay Rosenblatt’s “How Do You Measure a Year,” who filmed himself asking his daughter from the age of two to 18, asking her daughter – what do you dream about? what scares you? what do you think about our relationship? The movie will surely strike a chord if you’re a family person.

You can never count out Netflix with a pair of movies in the discussion — Kartiki Gonsalves’ “The Elephant Whisperers” and Anne Alvergue and Debra McClutchy’s “The Marsha Mitchell Effect.”

See the latest film predictions, in all 23 categories, in one place on Variety’s Oscars Collective. To see the ranked predictions for each individual category, visit Variety’s Oscars Hub.

See the 2022-2023 Awards Season calendar for all key dates and timelines.

ALL AWARDS CONTENDERS AND RANKINGS:

And The Predicted Nominees Are:
Rank	Name	Director(s)	Distributor(s)
1	“Holding Moses”	Rivkah Beth Medow, Jen Rainin (co-director)	Frankly Speaking Films
1	A Broadway performer becomes a mother, braiding rhythm and grief and time and joy on her path to connect with her profoundly disabled son.
2	“Nuisance Bear”	Gabriela Osio Vanden, Jack Weisman	The New Yorker
2	Churchill, Manitoba, is famous as an international destination for photographing polar bears. We’ve seen the majestic images and classic wildlife TV programs – but what does the bear see of us? ‘Nuisance Bear’ shifts the perspective to reveal the obstacle course of tourist paparazzi and wildlife officers that bears navigate during their annual migration.
3	“38 at the Garden”	Frank Chi	HBO Max
3	Follows the cultural impact of NBA trailblazer Jeremy Lin during his 2011-12 season with the New York Knicks and the cultural phenomenon known as “Linsanity”.
4	“As Far as They Can Run”	Tanaz Eshaghian	MTV Documentary Films
4	Three young adults join a running program for disabled youth in Pakistan, hoping to shift perspectives in their rural community.
5	“How Do You Measure a Year?	Jay Rosenblatt	Jay Rosenblatt Films
5	From the time she was two-years-old and until she turned 18, they had a ritual: Dad asked (and filmed), and Ella answered. What do you dream about? What scares you? What do you think about our relationship? This is a little story about growing up and the love between father and daughter.
Next in Line
6	“Angola Do You Hear Us? Voices from a Plantation Prison”	Cinque Northern	Aubin Pictures
6	Angola Do You Hear Us? Voices from a Plantation Prison gives us a window into playwright Liza Jessie Peterson’s performance in 2020 of her acclaimed play The Peculiar Patriot performed at Angola, the Louisiana State Penitentiary, said to be America’s largest prison.
7	“The Marsha Mitchell Effect”	Anne Alvergue, Debra McClutchy (co-director)	Netflix
7	The Cabinet wife who spoke out during Watergate and the Nixon administration’s campaign to gaslight her into silence.
8	“The Elephant Whisperers”	Kartiki Gonsalves	Netflix
8	The Elephant Whisperers’ follows an indigenous couple as they fall in love with Raghu, an orphaned elephant given into their care, and tirelessly work to ensure his survival. The film highlights the beauty of the wild spaces in South India and the people and animals who share this space
9	“Anastasia”	Sarah McCarthy	MBK Productions
9	A woman whose resistance to the Putin regime comes at a terrible cost.
10	“American Justice on Trial: People v. Newton”	Herb Ferrette, Andrew Abrahams	Open Eye Pictures
10	The film tells the forgotten story of the death penalty case that put racism on trial in a U.S. courtroom in the fall of 1968.
Also In Contention
—	“The Flagmakers”	Sharon Liese, Cynthia Wade	National Geographic Documentary Films
—	“Happiness Is £4 Million”	Weixi Chen, Kai Wei	TripodMedia
—	“Haulout”	Maxim Arbugaev, Evgenia Arbugaeva	Albireo Films
—	“Shut Up and Paint”	Titus Kaphar, Alex Mallis	DCTV
—	“Stranger at the Gate”	Joshua Seftel	The New Yorker

2023 Academy Awards Predictions

The 95th Oscars ceremony will be held at the Dolby Theatre and televised live on ABC on Sunday, March 12, 2022.

2022 category winner: “The Queen of Basketball” (The New York Times) – Ben Proudfoot

About Variety Awards Circuit:

Variety’s unmatched coverage gives its readership unbeatable exposure in print and online and provides inside reports on all the contenders in this year’s awards season races. In addition to predictions, the section includes — Awards Circuit Column, a weekly analysis dissecting the trends and contenders in the race; Awards Circuit Podcast, a weekly series featuring interviews with the top contenders in the awards race and an expert roundtable discussion with Variety’s leading editors and columnists; Awards Circuit Predictions Video Series, a deep dive into specific categories, led by the leading pundits.

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December 22, 2022

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Variety Awards Circuit section is the home

Movies

Here's What Fans Really Think Of "Emily In Paris" Season 3 So Far

Let the love triangle continue…

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December 22, 2022

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Let the love triangle continue

Film

Jeff Garlin is Never Have I Ever’s HR problem now

The disgraced actor who allegedly wouldn’t stop saying “oh, my vagina” at work has a new job. So who’s the lucky cast that gets to put up with Jeff Garlin’s raunchy punch-ups? Well, Never Have I Ever won’t be able to claim “hired Jeff Garlin” as something it’s never done. Garlin is jumping from his cushy gig on The Goldbergs, where he’s collected residuals on 205 episodes, for Mindy Kaling’s Never Have I Ever fourth season on Netflix.

The Creepy CGI of Jeff Garlin from the Goldbergs

After multiple complaints and internal investigations, Garlin and Sony Television made the mutually beneficial decision to spare the Goldbergs’ cast and crew from anymore Garlin. “There has been an HR investigation on me the past three years,” Garlin told Vanity Fair in 2021. “HR has come to me three years in a row for my behavior on set.” So the cast and crew of The Goldbergs won’t have Garlin to complain about anymore, nor will they have to continue hearing genuine apologies like “[A]s a comedian, if somebody is offended by what I say, all I can say is, I’m sorry. OK?” Or, as Garlin’s former co-star Wendi McLendon-Covey put it on Twitter: “This season threw us for a loop because a.) it’s hard to incorporate someone who doesn’t want to be there and wants to leave mid-scene, and b.) we weren’t about to re-write the 2nd half of the season.”

So the show gave Garlin his wish, and his character was killed off the show, and so the production went through the trouble of adding a horrific digital Jeff Garlin to the show’s wedding episode. Crawling straight out of the pits of the uncanny valley, Garlin 2.0 has haunted the nightmares of television viewers ever since, sneaking into their dreams and shouting “oh, my vagina” at them.

And like the sleeping children hoping that the Sandman won’t conjure Garlin, Never Have I Ever can now count the actor as their problem. According to Variety, Garlin will play, what else, “a sweet man who fixes a mean sandwich.” What can we say? He was simply the only person who could bring that role to life.

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December 22, 2022

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The GoldbergsScreenshot: ABCThe disgraced actor who allegedly

Hollywood Outlook for 2023: Extremely Bumpy

Fasten your seat belts: Hollywood is in for another bumpy ride in 2023.

With the economy once again on the brink of a recession and cutbacks hitting hard all over town, the entertainment industry is bracing for more challenges in the year ahead. Among the many question marks for 2023: Will the movie business revive to pre-pandemic levels? When will the high drama at Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery settle down? And how viable is streaming as a business model for legacy media companies anyway?

In an ordinary year, Will Smith’s Oscar night slap of Chris Rock might stand out as a signature event, but that onstage incident, as shocking as it was, was soon overshadowed by two seismic developments: In April, the Warner Bros. Discovery merger closed, paving the way for a series of changes under new boss David Zaslav, while Wall Street darling Netflix disclosed its first subscriber loss in a decade, prompting a massive stock slide and general freakout about big bets placed on streaming as the wave of the future.

In November, Disney’s board of directors stunned Hollywood when it ousted embattled CEO Bob Chapek and reinstated Bob Iger to the top perch. Iger quickly undid some of his successor’s corporate realignments and set about mending relationships with a rattled creative community.

Nerves are far from soothed around town as the holidays get underway, however. With last-minute cancellations on the rise and labor storm clouds on the horizon, Hollywood is feeling less festive than usual. Here’s our look back at the tumultuous year that was and the outlook for the one ahead.

Multiplex woes

When will the exhibition business be truly boffo again? Sure, “Avatar: The Way of Water” dominated at the box office over the weekend, but its opening haul fell short of 2022 Marvel releases including “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and cannot paper over the ongoing difficulties of midrange films such as Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans.” Theater owners have been lamenting the meager release slate for months, and it doesn’t look like studios will return to pre-pandemic output levels any time soon.

Outlook: Troubled

Streaming’s reality check

Netflix’s Q1 2022 subscriber miss forced the industry to reexamine bullish predictions about the sector’s growth potential and all the billions of dollars spent on content. Layoffs and cancellations commenced, none more startling to the creative community than Zaslav’s August decision to write off “Batgirl,” greenlit by the previous leadership of Warner Media and intended for HBO Max. This here-today-gone-tomorrow approach to distribution unnerved creatives behind shows, some of whom had spent years developing their projects.

Outlook: Mixed. Streaming is here to stay, but so, likely, are scaled-back expenditures and a reliance on ad-supported options as the sector matures.

Ads regain favor

With cord cutting continuing and content costs high, streamers began leaning more heavily into ad-supported options in 2022. Former holdout Netflix rolled out an ad-supported tier in November, with Disney+ doing the same earlier this month. Meanwhile, free ad-supported streaming channels are growing apace, and all that inventory makes Madison Avenue happy.

Outlook: Positive. The threat of TV shifting to entirely subscription models is fading fast.

Post Peak TV?

With networks and streaming services ready to cancel shows on a moment’s notice and cost containment a mandate from C-suites, we might have finally moved to post-peak TV. In 2023, we should get a better idea of whether that mountain of content has been scaled — and whether the upcoming Emmy season will be less punishing as a result.

Outlook: Sanity seems to be returning as the volume of content production slowly (and inevitably) ebbs.

Whither #MeToo?

A series of court cases involving sexual assault have many in Hollywood wondering about the future of the #MeToo movement. A Los Angeles jury has convicted Harvey Weinstein on three more counts of sexual assault. But earlier in the year, a jury sided with Kevin Spacey in a $40 million civil lawsuit. Danny Masterson’s rape trial, which could have put him behind bars for 40 years, ended in a mistrial. Meanwhile, Louis C.K. won a Grammy in April.

Outlook: Unclear. It’s hard to imagine returning to a pre-Weinstein world of looking the other way at vile behavior, but the legal processes for #MeToo cases remain unpredictable.

Ticketing drama

In the wake of botched ticket sales for Taylor Swift’s tour, the biggest cliffhanger in music is whether lawmakers are all bark or some bite, too, in taking on either Ticketmaster (which is caught in a stuck-in-the-middle-with-you dance over tacked-on fees that actually benefit the company relatively little) or what many see as the real enemy, the secondary market.

Outlook: Don’t hold your breath but after the outcry from the Swifties, maybe some consumer-friendly legislation is on the horizon.

Golden future?

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made headlines this year with Meghan’s revealing interview with Variety in October and with the December release of Netflix’s “Harry and Meghan” docuseries. All that buzz generated a quick Season 2 pickup of the series. So what’s the next frontier for 2023 — producing scripted series and features?

Outlook: One bullish Variety staffer sees the pair adding “Oscar-nominated” to their list of credits in the future.

Contributors: Jem Aswad, Marc Malkin, Joe Otterson, Brian Steinberg, Elizabeth Wagmeister and Chris Willman

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December 22, 2022

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Fasten your seat belts: Hollywood is in

Entertaintment, Film

Hanukkah Movie Guide: Must Watch List

The festival of lights is back and here is a list of Hanukkah movies to get you into the holiday spirit.

What is Hanukkah?

Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is observed by lighting the candles of a candelabrum with nine branches, commonly called a menorah or Hanukkah.

Courtesy of Getty

One branch is typically placed above or below the others and its candle is used to light the other eight candles. This unique candle is called the shammash. Each night, one additional candle is lit by the shammash until all eight candles are lit together on the final night of the festival.

Other Hanukkah festivities include singing Hanukkah songs, playing the game of dreidel and eating oil-based foods, such as latkes and sufganiyot, and dairy foods. Since the 1970s, the worldwide Chabad Hasidic movement has initiated public menorah lightings in open public places in many countries.

Hanukkah Movie ‘Must Watch’ List

1 Eight Crazy Nights

Adam Sandler’s animated flick, which this hilarious adaptation the comedian plays a 30-something who parties a little too hard. He gets in legal trouble, but his judge gives him another chance since it’s the holiday season. He’s tasked with doing community service as a referee for the youth basketball league.

It can watched on Amazon Prime here.

2 Hitched for the Holidays

This list wouldn’t be complete without a holiday rom-com. In the film a bachelor signs up for a dating site to fulfill his grandmother’s wish of seeing him settle down. He meets another Jewish New Yorker, and they agree to accompany each other at their families’ holiday celebrations. Will their faux-mance become real?

It can be watched on TubiTV here.

3 Fiddler on the Roof

An oldie but good and classic. This adaptation of the 1964 Broadway musical follows a poor dad to five daughters in pre-revolutionary Russia who tries to keep up Jewish traditions against antisemitism while finding good husbands for them.

It can watched on Amazon Prime here.

4 A Rugrats Chanukah

Throw it back with this 1996 Hanukkah special from the beloved Rugrats cartoon. Tommy, Dil, Chucky, Angelica, Lil, and Phil learn about the history of the holiday from Tommy and Dil’s grandpa Boris during a trip to the synagogue.

It can watched on Paramount Plus here.

5 Little Fockers

This original was absolutely hilarious. In this sequel to Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers it continues the story of Greg Focker. Like the first two films in the hilarious trilogy, Greg tries to impress and earn the trust of his uptight father-in-law, Jack.

It can be watched on Peacock TV here.

6 The Night Before

This one’s for the adults, three childhood best friends have a yearly Christmas Eve tradition of throwing the craziest parties. The tradition is changing as they’re growing up, but to make it a night to remember, they set out to find the best holiday party: the Nutcracka Ball. Seth Rogen plays a Jewish character in this comedy.

It can watched on Amazon Prime here.

7 Mistletoes & Menorahs

We all love the rom-coms and what the perfect mix with Hanukkah and Lifetime. They make some of the best holiday movies out there, and Hanukkah is no exception. In this lighthearted film, a big-shot toy company executive must learn about the Jewish holiday to land a big account. She enlists the help of a bachelor who happens to need her help to impress his girlfriend’s family for Christmas.

It can be watched on Hulu here.

8 Jack and Jill

Adam Sandler is hilarious in anything to be honest which is why we have him as our top pick. This movie is no exception and is LOL funny, The comedian plays a pair of siblings that get off on the wrong foot during Thanksgiving. To make it up to his sister, Jack offers to let Jill stay through Hanukkah.

It can be watched on Netlix here.

9 Eight Gifts of Hanukkah

This holiday flick will put anyone in the holiday spirit. When Sara starts receiving anonymous Hanukkah gifts from a secret admirer, she realizes that she may find love where she least expects it.

It can be watched on Amazon Prime here.

10 Love, Lights, Hannukah!

When a restaurant owner learns she’s Jewish from a DNA test, she meets new family members and even finds an unexpected romance over the eight nights of Hanukkah.

It can be watched on Amazon Prime here.

So get your latkes and babka ready with some popcorn and prepare for a night on with all these movies.

December 22, 2022

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The festival of lights is back and

Entertaintment, Film

Christmas Movie Guide: Must Watch

Here is a list of a bunch of Christmas movies to watch with your loved ones this holiday season.

Courtesy of Disney +

Courtesy of Hallmark

Courtesy of AMC

Courtesy of Lifetime

Courtesy of CBS

Courtesy of Netflix

For the UK

Courtesy of Netflix

Courtesy of Prime Video

For ABC

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 16

8:00-8:30 p.m. “The Conners” (Thanksgiving episode)

8:30-9:00 p.m. “The Goldbergs” (Thanksgiving episode)

9:31-10:00 p.m. “Home Economics” (Thanksgiving episode)

TUESDAY, NOV. 22

10:00-11:00p.m. “The Rookie: Feds” (Thanksgiving episode)

SUNDAY, NOV. 27

7:00-7:30 p.m. “Mickey Saves Christmas” (new)

7:30-8:00 p.m. “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure”

8:00-10:00 p.m. The Wonderful World of Disney: “Magical Holiday Celebration” (new)

MONDAY, NOV. 28

8:00-10:00 p.m. “The Great Christmas Light Fight” (season premiere)

TUESDAY, NOV. 29

8:00-9:00 p.m. “Love Actually: 20 Years Later – A Diane Sawyer/ABC News Special” (new)

THURSDAY, DEC. 1

8:00-10:01 p.m. The Wonderful World of Disney: “Frozen II” (broadcast premiere)

MONDAY, DEC. 5

8:00-10:00 p.m. “The Great Christmas Light Fight” (new)

TUESDAY, DEC. 6

8:00-9:00 p.m. “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” (holiday episode)

9:00-10:00 p.m. “Press Your Luck” (holiday episode)

10:00-11:00 p.m. “The $100,000 Pyramid” (holiday episode)

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 7

8:00-8:30 p.m. “The Conners” (holiday episode)

8:30-9:00 p.m. “The Goldbergs” (holiday episode)

9:00-9:31 p.m. “Abbott Elementary” (holiday episode)

9:31-10:00 p.m. “Home Economics” (holiday episode)

THURSDAY, DEC. 8

8:00-9:00 p.m. “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town”

9:00-10:01 p.m. “CMA Country Christmas” (new)

MONDAY, DEC. 12

8:00-10:00 p.m. “The Great Christmas Light Fight” (season finale)

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 14

10:00-11:00 p.m. “Finding Harmony” (new)

TUESDAY, DEC. 20

8:00-9:00 p.m. “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town”

9:00-9:30 p.m. “Disney’s Prep & Landing”

9:30-10:00 p.m. “Disney’s Prep & Landing 2: Naughty vs. Nice”

FRIDAY, DEC. 23

8:00-8:30 p.m. “Mickey Saves Christmas”

8:30-9:00 p.m. “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure

SATURDAY, DEC. 24

8:00-10:00 p.m. The Wonderful World of Disney: “Home Alone”

SUNDAY, DEC. 25

10:00 a.m-12:00 p.m. ET/

7:00-9:00 a.m. PT “Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade” (new)

MONDAY, DEC. 26

9:00-11:00 p.m. “The Year: 2022” (new)

SATURDAY, DEC. 31

8:00-10:00 p.m. “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2023” (new)

10:00-10:30 p.m. Local Programming

10:30 p.m.-2:13 a.m. “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2023” (new)

About ABC Holiday Programming

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 16

“The Conners” – “Untitled” – It’s Thanksgiving at the Conners and Jackie must come to terms with her mother, Beverly, becoming ill. Meanwhile, Darlene is on the job hunt which proves to be more difficult than anticipated. (8:00-8:30 p.m.) (working episode description)

“The Goldbergs” – “Another Turkey Trot” – It’s Thanksgiving, and no one crushes Turkey Day like Beverly Goldberg; though, with the loss of Murray, this holiday feels a bit different. Geoff and Erica are stressed over the new baby; and, even more worrisome, an unexpected Goldberg relative arrives. With everyone highly suspicious of this unforeseen visitor, things are likely to go off the rails at any moment. (8:30-9:00 p.m.)

“Home Economics” – “Wheel of Vegan Brie, $24” – It’s Thanksgiving at the Hayworths, though this year feels a bit different with one extra chair at the table. While Tom, Sarah and Connor wrestle with their conflicting emotions, Marina and Denise see this new addition to the family as a potential chance to gain a new “normal.” This episode guest stars Casey Wilson. (9:31-10:00 p.m.)

TUESDAY, NOV. 22

“The Rookie: Feds” – “Standoff” – After a father and daughter are kidnapped on Thanksgiving, the team discovers a hostage situation involving police deputies. When the gunmen offer an exchange for the hostages, Simone is sent undercover by Garza, and Lopez arrives to help rescue Wesley. Meanwhile, Laura and Brendon search for a nanny cam that could reveal the identity of the kidnapper. (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

SUNDAY, NOV. 27

“Mickey Saves Christmas” – Disney’s new stop-motion holiday special, “Mickey Saves Christmas,” follows Mickey, Minnie and their pals as they attempt to celebrate the perfect Christmas at their snowy cabin. However, when Pluto causes Santa to lose all the presents on his sleigh, the friends travel to the North Pole on a quest to save Christmas and find the true meaning of the holiday. A collaboration between Disney and Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, “Mickey Saves Christmas” premieres with a simulcast on ABC, Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD. (7:00-7:30 p.m.)

“Olaf’s Frozen Adventure” – In “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure,” Olaf teams up with Sven on a merry mission. It’s the first holiday season since the gates reopened, and Anna and Elsa host a celebration for all of Arendelle. When the townspeople unexpectedly leave early to enjoy their individual holiday customs, the sisters realize they have no family traditions of their own. So, Olaf sets out to comb the kingdom to bring home the best traditions and save Anna and Elsa’s “first Christmas in forever.” “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure” features the original cast of Arendelle characters, including Olaf, voiced by Josh Gad; Anna, voiced by Kristen Bell; Elsa, voiced by Idina Menzel; and Kristoff, voiced by Jonathan Groff. (Rebroadcast) (7:30-8:00 p.m.)

The Wonderful World of Disney: “Magical Holiday Celebration” – This ABC holiday season staple returns for its seventh year with a dazzling array of all-new musical performances. The special is executive produced by Disney Parks along with Film 45 Live. (8:00-10:00 p.m.)

For Turner Classic Movies

Friday, November 18, 2022

8:00pm – Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
10:00pm – The Bishop’s Wife (1947)

Saturday, November 19, 2022

12:00am – Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

Saturday, December 3, 2022

4:00pm – Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
6:00pm – The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)

Sunday, December 4, 2022

4:00pm – Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
6:00pm – Remember the Night (1940)

Saturday, December 10, 2022

6:00pm – The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

Sunday, December 11, 2022

4:15pm – Holiday Affair (1949)
6:00pm – The Bishop’s Wife (1947)

Monday, December 12, 2022

12:00am – Christmas Past (1925)

Saturday, December 17, 2022

2:00am – Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
8:00am – The Captain’s Christmas (1938)
10:00am – Mister and Mistletoe (1955)
5:00pm – King of Kings (1961)
8:00pm – The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)

Sunday, December 18, 2022

4:15pm – A Christmas Carol (1938)
5:45pm – It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947)
8:00pm – Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

Monday, December 19, 2022

12:00am- The King of Kings (1927)
2:45am – Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983)
5:00am – Mon Oncle Antoine (1971)
8:00pm – The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

Tuesday, December 20, 2022

10:15pm – The Holly and the Ivy (1952)

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

7:30am – Christmas Past (1925)
9:45am – A Christmas Carol (1938)
11:15am – A Carol for Another Christmas (1964)
8:00pm – Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
10:00pm – Holiday Affair (1949)

Thursday, December 22, 2022

10:45am – Susan Slept Here (1954)
5:30pm – The Lion in the Winter (1968)
8:00pm – It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947)
10:15pm – The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)

Friday, December 23, 2022

8:00pm – Remember the Night (1940)

Saturday, December 24, 2022

12:00pm – The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
1:45pm – It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947)
4:00pm – Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
6:00pm – Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
8:00pm – The Bishop’s Wife (1947)
10:00pm – A Christmas Carol (1938)

Sunday, December 25, 2022

6:00am – Star in the Night (1945)
2:15pm – The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)
4:15pm – Holiday Affair (1949)

For BET

All Films available to stream on-demand on BET+

“THE RECIPE: HOLIDAY EDITION FT. THE MANNS” PREMIERES
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24 AT 8PM ON BET AND BET HER

“THE RECIPE: HOLIDAY EDITION FT. THE MANNS” premieres Thursday, November 24 at 8PM – A holiday celebration with The Manns enjoying signature dishes and singing Christmas favorites.

BET+ ORIGINAL FILM “A WESLEY CHRISTMAS” PREMIERES
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24 AT 9 PM ON BET AND BET HER

“A WESLEY CHRISTMAS” premieres Thursday, November 24 at 9PM – Adult siblings Chris, Todd, and Cydney Wesley travel to their childhood home to celebrate Christmas with their parents and the entire Wesley family. With everyone together and all their physical and emotional baggage in tow, the annual Wesley family holiday promises to be a festive, hot mess of a Christmas with life-changing impacts on the whole family.

Cast: Dorien Wilson, Jasmine Guy, Terrence Carson, Loren Lott, Terayle Hill, Mike Merrill

Director: Patricia Cuffie Jones

Writer: Bree West

Produced by: Octet Productions

For film images click here: Images. Watch and share the trailer here: A WESLEY CHRITSMAS

BET+ ORIGINAL FILM “THE CHRISTMAS CLAPBACK” PREMIERES
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25 AT 9PM ON BET AND BET HER

“THE CHRISTMAS CLAPBACK” premieres Friday, November 25 at 9PM – Every year the three Miles sisters, Jasmine, Kira, and Tisha, battle each other for a chance to win the neighborhood Christmas Church Cook-Off competition. But when Aaliyah, the vivacious Social Media Influencer, enters the competition, the sisters must choose to rise together or fall divided.

Cast: Nadine Ellis, Porscha Coleman, Candace Maxwell, Kara Royster, Eltony Williams, Brandon Sutton, Lisa Arrindell

Director: Robin Givens

Writer: Christopher Oscar Pena and Joy Kecken

Producer: Stargazer

For film images click here: Images. Watch and share the trailer here: THE CHRISTMAS CLAPBACK

BET+ ORIGINAL FILM “ROLLING INTO CHRISTMAS” PREMIERES
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2 AT 9PM ON BET AND BET HER

“ROLLING INTO CHRISTMAS” premieres Friday, December 2 at 9PM – Two childhood sweethearts who shared a passion for roller skating are reunited 15 years later during the holidays, forcing them to question their love and life choices.

Cast: Rhyon Nicole Brown, Donny Carrington, Brandee Evans, Gary Dourdan

Director: Trey Haley

Writer: Greg Anderson

Producer: Swirl Films

For film images click here: Images. Watch and share the trailer here: ROLLING INTO CHRISTMAS

BET+ ORIGINAL FILM “THE SOUND OF CHRISTMAS” PREMIERES
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9 AT 9PM ON BET AND BET HER

“THE SOUND OF CHRISTMAS” premieres Friday, December 9 at 9PM – A down-on-her-luck music teacher leads a wealthy widower away from his gold-digging girlfriend and back to love and music during the Christmas holidays.

Cast: Ne-Yo, Serayah, Draya Michele, Michael Bless, Alijah Kai

Director & Writer: Booker T Mattison

Executive Producer: Tressa Azarel Smallwood

For film images click here: Images. Watch and share the trailer here: THE SOUND OF CHRISTMAS

BET+ ORIGINAL FILM “THE FIRST NOELLE” PREMIERES
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16 AT 9PM ON BET AND BET HER

“THE FIRST NOELLE” premieres Friday, December 16 at 9PM – After twenty years of friendship, Terrance and Noelle finally decide to date each other but ultimately break up when Terrance moves to London for work. Now that Terrance is back in Atlanta for Christmas with his new girl, also named Noelle, our lead is determined to get him back and say goodbye to being friend-zoned forever.

Cast: Novi Brown, LaLa Milan, Todd Anthony

Director: Patricia Cuffie Jones

Writers: Ariel Driskell and Patricia Cuffie Jones

Executive Producers: Larry Grimaldi, Hannah Pillemer, and Fernando Szew for MarVista Entertainment

Co-Executive Producer: Adam Shepard for MarVista Entertainment

Producers: Autumn Bailey-Ford from Autumn Bailey Entertainment and Karl Horstmann at Triple Horse Studios.

For Film images click here: Images. Watch and share the trailer here: THE FIRST NOELLE

A HOLIDAY CHANCE PREMIERES
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22 AT 9PM ONLY ON BET

“A HOLIDAY CHANCE” premieres Thursday, December 22 at 9PM – The family of the founder of a multi-million-dollar film company experiences some tragic events during the holidays and two sisters must set aside a life-long rivalry and come together to turn the company around and keep the family intact.

Cast: Nafessa Williams, Sharon Leal, Tobias Truvillion, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Amin Joseph, Richard Lawson

Director: Jamal Hill

Writer: Curtis Bryant, Jamal Hill, Nafessa Willams

BET+ ORIGINAL FILM A MIRACLE BEFORE CHRISTMAS PREMIERES
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23 AT 7PM ON BET AND BET HER

“A MIRACLE BEFORE CHRISTMAS” premieres Friday, December 23 at 7PM – With a little help from an angel, Mercedes Wright, a fast-talking popular relationship therapist with all the answers when it comes to fixing everyone else’s marriage, must now use the magic of Christmas to find the secret to save her own.

Cast: LeToya Luckett, Romeo Miller, Keith David, Demetrius Shipp Jr, Paula Jai Parker and Porscha Coleman

Director, Writer & Producer: LazRael Lison

For film images click here: Images.

BET+ ORIGINAL FILM CHRISTMAS PARTY CRASHERS PREMIERES
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23 AT 9PM ON BET AND BET HER

“CHRISTMAS PARTY CRASHERS” premieres Friday, December 23 at 9PM – When two grifters meet after crashing the same millionaire’s Christmas party, they agree to work together to achieve each other’s “mission,” not knowing that they would find something more than money or fame – true love.

Cast: Skye Townsend, Jaime Callica, Cocoa Brown

Director and Co-Producer: Sheldon Epps

Writer: Scotty Mullen and Chad Quinn

Executive Producers: Todd Y. Murata, Larry Grimaldi, Hannah Pillemer, Fernando Szew for MarVista Entertainment

Producer: Susan Ratliff for A Ratliff Concepts Production

For film images click here: Images. Watch and share the trailer here: CHRISTMAS PARTY CRASHERS

ON BET HER:

BET+ ORIGINAL FILM “HOLIDAY HIDEAWAY” PREMIERES
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17 AT 8PM ONLY ON BET HER

“HOLIDAY HIDEAWAY” premieres Saturday, December 17 at 8PM – Carly is the queen of holiday celebrations, but her mistletoe misstep sends her running to a Holiday Hideaway that teaches her the importance of family, forgiveness and fighting for love.

Cast: Camille Winbush, Vivica A Fox, Leonard Earl Howze, Rodney Van Johnson, Novi Brown

Director: Cole Patterson

Writer: Sharon Brathwaite

Produced by: Freeze Frame Entertainment

For film images click here: Images. Watch and share the trailer here: HOLIDAY HIDEAWAY

BET+ ORIGINAL FILM A CHRISTMAS GIFT PREMIERES
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24 AT 8PM ONLY ON BET HER

“A CHRISTMAS GIFT” premieres Saturday, December 24 at 8PM – In a failed attempt to cancel Christmas, the McKenzie’s find themselves ultimately navigating through unexpected guests, secrets, and revelations that will have a lasting effect on their families.

Cast: Blue Kimble, Noree Victoria, Javon Johnson, Victoria Rowell, Aaron D Spears, Nadia Simms, Tiffany Snow, Marc Jones, Cayen Martin

Director: Christopher A. Nolen

Writer: Cassandra Mann

Producer: Christopher A. Nolen for Nferno Media Entertainment

December 22, 2022

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Here is a list of a bunch

Entertaintment, TV

Jack Ryan Season 3 Episode 4 Recap – Sting Ops and War Talk

At the end of Jack Ryan episode 3, Luka killed Konstantin and revealed himself to be Jack’s source, and Jack and Mike headed to Budapest to track down an arm’s dealer named Levan Zubkov who was dealing Uranium to the Sokol project, and he happened to be one of Mike’s client’s. Meanwhile Greer had helped president Kovac figure out that her chief of staff Radek was in fact one of the people behind minister Popov’s death.

The summary of this episode reads, “In Budapest, Jack and Mike plan a sting on a slippery arms dealer to ascertain the whereabouts of the Sokol nuclear device, as Greer discovers some intriguing and potentially incriminating information on Petr Kovac.”

Read the recap of Season 3 Episode 3 here.

SPOILERS AHEAD FOR JACK RYAN SEASON 3 EPISODE 4

In a very smart move, when he returns to Moscow, Russia, Luka has a meeting with defense minister Petrova and hands him his own phone, which contains Jack’s texts and claims that Konstantin is the traitor, and accuses Petrov of trying to have him killed. He tells him Jack never showed at the meeting but Luka tried to kill him instead accusing Petrova of setting him up. Framing him as the leak inside the Sokol project instead. A masterful move on his part. Petrov apologizes and says he had nothing to do with it.

Courtesy of Amazon Studios

In Budapest, Jack and November start planning how they will get to Hungarian arms dealer, Levan Zubkov. November talks about what a tight ship he runs and what a closely guarded operation this is and how Zubkov has a close relationship with the police. So getting to him is not going to be easy, now remember Zubkov is one of November’s clients, so Jack suggests they get him to need an extraction, getting him to come to them.

The first part of the plan starts with Jack hijacking one of Levan’s meetings. Jack meets one of Levan’s buyers and convinces him it’s too dangerous right now to work with Levan, the buyer, then backs out, messages Levan saying that he cannot make it. This gets the dominoes falling.

When Elizabeth has to brief their boss Miller on what happened in Vienna, she covers for Ryan and doesn’t tell him he was on the train, but when she does relay what he spoke about in the phone call from the previous episode, Miller begins to question if Jack is being played and whether he really can be trusted when he finds out who Jack’s asset is.

Meanwhile Greer is investigating Radek and Peter, Kovac’s father, and most trusted advisor. We see Greer and 2 other agent break into Radek’s apartment and search it, there they find an old army photo which shows Petr was Radek’s commander in the Army.

We then see a flashback that shows us Petr was one of the soldiers back in Matoksa, he refused to kill the scientists because he believed the Sokol project was their chance to save the union, but he was shot. Of course, it wasn’t fatal. We now know that he is one of the people working on the Sokol project to bring back old Russia.

Courtesy of Amazon Studios

Flash forward to Jack and November abducting George, Zubkov’s assistant. Soon after we see November walk into a room with George’s bag and leave it there. Later on we see a paranoid Levan checking his room and his people for bugs and wires. George’s phone, which was left there by November then gets a call, with Jack listening to Levan panic on the other line. It was almost time for the last phase of their plan.

As for as politics is concerned, we see Greer question the President without telling her of his suspicions. Later on we see Greer ask a fellow agent to put a 24 hour detail on her. Which wouldn’t seem important at the time but when it comes to the end of the episode, it will be.

Meanwhile in the Russian war room, Luka seems to push the idea that Greer is putting ideas into Kovac’s head and the Russian president decides to strike back at the Czech Republic. Petrov on the other hand seems distracted by the fact that the Chief of Staff is missing. Cut to an underground bunker where we see Luka has a man tied up, it’s the Chief of Staff. Luka has found out that the Russian President’s chief of staff, was spying for Petrov. Luka gets him to write down the set of names of everyone linked to the project by convincing him his boss is giving everyone up, which of course he isnt. He plays him perfectly, before he eventually shoots him in the head.

A determined Greer questions Petr later, the two bond over vodka and he pulls some information from the old man that he is not “Czech” but Russian. Petr tells how his mother immigrated with him to the neighboring country. He is an exile and never had a home to go home to.

In the next step of their plan, Jack and November’s partner and IT guy drives a car with a fake bomb in the backseat into Levan’s compound which sends him and his security team into frenzy, after running away, Levan finally calls Mike November for an extraction. Mike then tells him to meet him at a safe house and transfer 100,000 into an account.

Courtesy of Amazon Studios

When Levan walk into the safe house and sees a tied up George, Mike pulls a gun on him, and Jack very calmly explains to him just how screwed he is. Jack asked him where the Uranium was and when he didn’t answer, he explains, the account he transferred the money into was an ISIS monitered account, and his name was now on every country’s watch list. So he had no choice but to help them. When Jack asks the second time, he has no choice but to help them.

Where is the Uranium going? Back to where it all began. Matoksa. After contemplating it, Jack calls and gives this information to Elizabeth, he even tells her exactly where he is. But when Jack asks her for her help, she asks him to turn himself in.

Courtesy of Amazon Studios

The episode ends with the president attending a military event, there Radek gets a call from his wife who warns him the CIA has been in there house. She warns what would happen if Petr were to find out they were on to him. He tells them to run. As the president gets into her vehicle he takes control leaving behind the rest of her security detail and while they are driving away, Radek turns and drives away with the president.

Tensions rise in this episode, both on the CIA and political side, and with both countries, what’s exciting is we get to see some old school secret agent work from Jack. This season though is a perfect example of the complex writing we always see on Jack Ryan, and we are only halfway through season 3.

December 22, 2022

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At the end of Jack Ryan episode

Entertaintment, TV

Jack Ryan Season 3 Episode 3 Recap – A Source Uncovered

When we last saw Jack Ryan, he had just been picked up by Mike November and was safe in Santorini Greece, hell bent on finding who the source who was feeding him information was. Whereas Greer who was trying to help Jack wound up being sent to the Czech Republic as a punishment. What happens next, with our heroes spread out across the world?

Read the recap of Season 3 Episode 2 here

SPOILERS AHEAD FOR JACK RYAN SEASON 3 EPISODE 3

Courtesy of Amazon Studios

This episode finds Jack and Mike November in Vienna Austria. Where we see Mike tailing Zoya whom we first saw give Jack the Intel about Sokol jn episode 1. Jack Sneaks into her apartment and once they are face to face, he asks for her help in setting up a meeting with the person who’s been feeding them information.

Back in Rome, the FBI is commandeering Jack’s office, his files and are looking for him themselves, officially labeling him as a rogue agent and a traitor. Things seems bleak for Jack, how the hell is he going to figure out a way out of this one now?

Meanwhile Greer is in the Czech Republic to speak to President Kovac

Courtesy of Amazon Studios

on the assassination of Popov, he shocks her by telling her the NSA has transcripts of Popov’s phone calls, and that he was on the same page as the president all along, which may have lead to his death. Greer then brings up the possibility that the new defense minister Petrov, may have something to do with it.

Soon Elizabeth gets wise of the fact that Jack is in Vienna, by tracking Zoya, and since she had lost control of the situation and was now ordered by the top of National Intelligence, she had to hand that information over to the NSD, and now the dead or alive option is mainly limited to one option, especially since Elizabeth’s boss agent Miller has charged him with treason.

Courtesy of Amazon Studios

When Greer finds out, he calls Mike and speaks to Jack and warns the two of them that the NSD had agents on the way to Vienna to arrest them. In that moment Greer says something that sets the premise for the whole season, “I think both of you are in way over your head, and every day you’re on the run, you’re digging a hole that you may not be able to get out of.”

This is when things get really exciting. Jack and Mike enter a train station in Vienna, still trying to find the source who sent the scientist to them in the first episode. They board a train, but not before Jack looks directly at the camera, in order to set a trap, and with the help of their very clever tech guy, who changes the number of the platform and the location they are able to throw the NSD Agents of their trail for a while.

Courtesy of Amazon Studios

But hold on a second, they’re not in the clear yet, because as Jack and Mike are on the train, Konstantin appears and starts to stir up trouble. First he knocks out Mike and locks him in a bathroom, and as jack is walking through the train, we see Luka inject him with something.

Konstantin now starts to attack Jack and beat him up, Jack fights back but Konstantin pins him down on the ground. Near the trains exit. We then see Luka come up behind him and start to ask certain questions, he mentions the drug he injected Jack with, which he says is truth serum. Things start to heat up for Jack, and just as you think Luka is about to shoot him, his gun points to Konstantin instead, and kills him. Telling him it was nothing but water in the syringe, he goes on to say “We have much to discuss and little time, if we are to stop Sokol,” which confirms everything we thought about Jack’s source.

Greer takes President Kovac back to the football stadium, he impresses upon her that this was an inside job. While making her relive the situation she comes to the realization that Radek wasnt with her when Popov was assassinated. Greer shows the president a video of the supposed shooter driving in with someone in the passenger seat that they cannot identify. James confirms that Radek is behind the plot.

When Jack asks Luka why he wants to help the CIA, he very says that for once they are on the same side. They have a long conversation about why Luka chose Jack, how he got them to go after Yuri, why Konstantin was a traitor and how Sokol was a mistake made by a rogue faction of Russia who wants to restore the Soviet Union, and to do so they need Uranium from one of Mike’s client’s, Levan Zubkov, in Budapest, which is where they head.

This makes Jack do the unthinkable, he calls Elizabeth Wright, with the info he has, admitting that Luka is his asset, but the fact that it comes from Luka Gocharov is not a big sell for the agency, he warns her that the US and Russia are being baited into War. Elizabeth however keeps her call with Jack quiet.

The episode ends with a reminder from Mike “Remember that line I was telling you about, you just crossed it.”

Things get really intense in this episode, both politically and action wise. John Krasinski describes Jack as “the superhero that didn’t have a cape,” this season Jack’s moral compass is called into question and we see him having to make a decision that will save everyone but put everything he has worked so hard for in jeopardy.

December 22, 2022

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When we last saw Jack Ryan, he

What to Watch

TV Ratings for Wednesday, Dec. 21: Grammy Salute to Paul Simon

In the latest TV show ratings, CBS’ The Price Is Right at Night rerun led Wednesday aka Christmas Eve Eve Eve Eve in both total viewers and in the demo.

CBS | The TPIR at Night rerun drew 4.4 million total viewers and a 0.5 demo rating, after which A Grammy Salute to the Songs of Paul Simon did 3.8 mil and a 0.3.

FOX | Night 3 of LEGO Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular was steady with 1.1 mil and a 0.3.

NBC | Leading out of a Dolly Parton’s Magic Mountain Christmas (or is it Mountain Magic Christmas?) encore, The Wheel (1.6 mil/0.3) was steady on Night 3 (of 10).

THE CW | Beebo Saves Christmas this year drew 290K and a 0.0.

Want scoop on any of the above shows? Email InsideLine@tvline.com and your question may be answered via Matt’s Inside Line.

The Live+Same Day numbers reported in our ratings column do not reflect a show’s overall performance, given the increased use of delayed playback via DVR and streaming platforms, plus out-of-home viewing. These numbers (Nielsen fast nationals, unless denoted as finals) instead aim to simply illustrate trends or superlatives. Steve Harvey is not a judge or lawyer and merely offers an alternative forum of dispute resolution.

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December 22, 2022

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In the latest TV show ratings, CBS’

Awards

Awards Chatter Podcast — Emma Thompson (Good Luck to You, Leo Grande) – The Hollywood Reporter

Emma Thompson, the guest on this episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, is a British actress and screenwriter who is the only person who has ever won Academy Awards for both acting and writing.

In addition to those two Oscars, the former for 1992’s Howards End and the latter for 1995’s Sense and Sensibility, she has also won three BAFTA Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, one Emmy Award and one Critics Choice Award, with other credits including 1993’s The Remains of the Day and In the Name of the Father, 1998’s Primary Colors, 2003’s Love Actually and the miniseries Angels in America, 2004’s Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, 2006’s Stranger Than Fiction, 2007’s Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, 2009’s An Education, 2013’s Saving Mr. Banks, 2017’s The Meyerowitz Stories, 2019’s Late Night and this year’s Good Luck to You, Leo Grande — all of which might explain why the 2018 citation in which Queen Elizabeth II made her a Dame describes her as “one of Britain’s most versatile and celebrated actresses,” why Vanity Fair has said she “redefined our image of female stardom,” why Interview has called her “the rarest of cinematic talents” and why The Observer’s Mark Kermode once said, “She’s up there with the great — I mean really great — British female performers.”

Over the course of our conversation — which Thompson recorded from her London home after being honored at a luncheon by the U.K. Critics’ Circle, the oldest association of critics in the world, for her Services to the Arts, and at which she gave a speech about the impact of film critics — the 63-year-old and I discussed the origins of her pursuit of acting and of her deep and passionate feminism; the peaks and valleys of a long career as a woman in the business; why, in Sophie Hyde’s 2022 Searchlight film Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, she agreed to play a retired schoolteacher who was recently widowed and hires a sex worker to help her finally experience an orgasm; plus much more.

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December 22, 2022

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Emma Thompson, the guest on this episode

Docs

Fiscal Updates: Catching Up with ‘Truckstop,’ ‘Leveling Lincoln’ and ‘Everything’s Fine’

Ever since its launch, Film Independent’s Fiscal Sponsorship program has supported a wide variety of projects: shorts, features, both narrative and nonfiction—even the occasional new media project, special event or advocacy initiative. Each month’s Fiscal Spotlight column announces three new projects taking part in the program. But maybe you’re curious how some of those prior subjects have turned out. Well, you’re in luck! Once again it’s time for another FiSpo Update highlighting the recent achievements of previous subjects of our Fiscal Spotlight hosannas.

For the uninitiated, Fi’s Fiscal Sponsorship program opens the door to nonprofit funding for independent filmmakers and media artists. The projects and makers participating in the program express a uniqueness of vision, celebrate diversity and advance the craft of filmmaking through the creation of these special works. To see the full range of projects that are part of our program, visit our Sponsored Projects page.

For more, watch our full discussion with Film Independent’s Artist Development team at the bottom of this article. If you’re already part of our Fiscal Sponsorship program and you have a production milestone you’d like to see here, please email us.

TRUCKSTOP

Project Type: Narrative Short

Project Status: Post-Production

Filmmaker: Molly Karna

Cast: Mansi Kaur, Destinee Turpinio, Gurinderjit Kaur, Prateek Chaturvedi, Anirudh Pareek, Raunak Singh

Synopsis: A restless young immigrant working at an isolated Punjabi truckstop in the California desert must decide whether she truly wants out.

Updates: Truckstop wrapped principal photography, capturing the Mojave Desert at her finest—with a brilliant lightning storm in tow! Since production wrapped, the film received editing support from the Om Garg Foundation and Hellerstein Foundation. Now in post-production, editor Avo Kambourian has created an assembly cut while the filmmakers work with long-time friend and composer Prateek Rajagopal (The Book of Boba Fett, Fairfax) to create a score rooted in the sounds of CA’s Central Valley that also pays tribute to classical Punjabi music. Meanwhile, producer Julia Elizabeth Evans was recently a Finalist at the 2022 Austin Film Festival Writers Conference.

LEVELING LINCOLN

Project type: Documentary Feature

Project status: Distribution/Impact Campaign

Filmmaker: Arden Teresa Lewis

Logline: Leveling Lincoln tells the story of a community’s involvement in a forgotten Civil Rights case. Filmmaker Arden Teresa Lewis had always taken for granted her integrated elementary school and upbringing in the 1960s. But when she discovers that this integration was made possible by a landmark court case, she starts interviewing her classmates and residents. The leveling of nonwhite Lincoln Elementary School paved the way for classroom integration in New Rochelle, NY—but what about the multiethnic Lincoln neighborhood? Leveling Lincoln asks as many questions as it answers, making viewers reflect on our their behaviors, then and now, as public schools across our the country still struggle with equity and integration.

Updates: Leveling Lincoln had its live world premiere at the Rhode Island Black Film Festival in April 2022 and won Best Historical Documentary. It went on to win the New York Vision Award at the Harlem International Film Festival and Best Feature Documentary at the Lady Filmmaker’s Film Festival in Beverly Hills, among other awards in over a dozen festivals. The film most recently screened at the 2022 YoFiFest in Yonkers, NY. Additionally, four community group screenings were held in the New Rochelle area, most recently at Iona University. The Chimaera Project and the Kaplan-Loring Foundation recently awarded the project funding, and Francois Blaignan (My Cousin Vinny, The Thin Red Line) joined as Sound Designer. Educational distributor NETA is working towards a January 10, 2022 release date. Visit the film’s website for more info on screenings and social impact progress.

EVERYTHING’S FINE

Project type: Narrative Short

Project status: Post-Production

Writer/Director: Christina Hulen

Cast: Charlotte Rothwell, McKenna Slone, Michelle Clunie, Chopper Bernet, Rick Otto

Synopsis: Young teacher Hannah is the sole survivor of a school shooting, suffering from PTSD and trauma-induced memory loss. Rather than acknowledge her issues, she puts on a brave face, insisting “everything’s fine” while attempting to hide her symptoms from her family. As the hours tick down to the one-year anniversary of the event, Hannah finds herself spiraling dangerously out of control. Plagued by disjointed flashbacks, her panic attacks, isolation and self-harm only increase, threatening to destroy her carefully crafted veneer of normalcy. Cracks also emerge in her family members. Her parents, Rachel and David, and wife Paige all manifest varying degrees of PTSD.

Updates: Everything’s Fine wrapped principal photography in November and is gearing up to go into post-production. The film has received support from the Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation and Change the Ref, which uses urban art and nonviolent creative confrontation to expose the disastrous effects of the mass shooting pandemic. The filmmakers were honored to have the endorsement and active participation of Manuel Oliver, who lost his son Joaquin in the Parkland shooting, as well as having a gifted crew member who is also a school shooting survivor. Everything’s Fine is continuing to raise funds for post-production.

Film Independent promotes unique independent voices by helping filmmakers create and advance new work. To become a Member of Film Independent, just click here. To support us with a donation, click here.

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December 22, 2022

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Pictured: Emergency health workers transport a Covid patient to a fever clinic at a hospital in Beijing yesterday

Global

China’s Covid capitulation… and it’s all down to its draconian hermit strategy!

China‘s decision to stick with draconian restrictions for so long is to blame for the ‘thermonuclear’ Covid wave that could kill up to a million people, experts warned today.

Startling projections since Beijing U-turned on its tough zero Covid stance suggest hundreds of thousands will die in the coming months because of low immunity across the country’s 1.4billion population.

Immunologists predict up to 60 per cent of the country will get infected between now an March, as the virus is allowed to rip.

Deaths will likely be in the ‘millions — plural’, one leading expert said, adding: ‘This is just the start.’

Pictured: Emergency health workers transport a Covid patient to a fever clinic at a hospital in Beijing yesterday

Official figures show Covid cases fell 47 per cent to 4,666 on December. Infections appear to have peaked back on November 29, when they totalled more than 71,000. But the figures are highly unreliable because mass testing in China was abandoned as part of the Government’s U-turn

China also reported no new Covid deaths yesterday and subtracted one death from its overall toll, lowering it to 5,241

Hubei in central China has seen the most cases since the start of the pandemic, with around 68,154 infections recorded

China had consistently reported fewer cases than countries in the West throughout the pandemic — due to different ways of counting — until the recent surge

Why is China being battered so badly by Covid?

China is currently in the midst of a Covid ‘pandemic tsunami’, according to doctors working in the country.

While official cases have dropped since the end of mass-testing, the Government’s U-turn on its zero Covid approach has seen the virus run rampant.

Professor David Livermore, a microbiologist at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline: ‘China is in for a few grim weeks as zero Covid is unravelled.

‘There will be a major surge of infections. Given China’s vast population and the low rates of vaccination in the vulnerable elderly there will be large numbers of deaths.

‘Those who were vaccinated received killed whole virus vaccines, not western mRNA products.

‘Hong Kong’s experience, back in the spring, was that these killed-virus preparations were less effective in reducing mortality.’

Chinese Covid vaccines — Sinovac and Sinopharm — are widely considered to be less effective than the mRNA vaccines used in most other nations.

The country’s vaccination drive began to tail off in early February, when around 7million people a day were getting a shot.

Booster doses over the summer were virtually non-existent over the summer, with people largely protected by stringent Covid measures and mass testing.

But since the policy-change, the virus has been allowed to rip through a population that had largely not been exposed to the virus.

Experts told MailOnline dropping zero Covid wasn’t the problem — it was dropping it so late after vaccinating the population.

Professor Paul Hunter, a public health expert at UEA, said any weak immunity afforded by the jabs had long run-off by the time measures were abandoned.

And because people were not topped up with immunity afforded by natural infection, they are particularly vulnerable now.

He said: ‘China’s problem now is not because they lifted the restrictions too soon but because they maintained zero Covid policy too long after the vaccination campaign so that the protective effect of the vaccination has been largely lost.

‘Compare this to new Zealand who lifted their restrictions soon after the vaccination campaign and got away with few deaths even though there was a surge in infections as expected.’

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Shocking footage shared online over the past few day show sick patients on respirators packing out hospital wards, with many forced to lie on the floor because beds have run out.

One clip shows an exhausted doctor collapsing because he was thought to have seen so many patients. Crematoriums say they have run out of space to keep bodies.

Experts today told MailOnline the capitulation has been caused by President Xi’s Government sticking with its zero Covid policy so long after rolling out vaccines.

The hermit strategy left China’s population with little to no natural immunity.

In contrast, countries in the West, including Britain, resorted to living with the virus, which now poses a milder threat thanks to immunity afforded by the vaccine and natural infections.

Official figures show Covid cases in China fell 47 per cent in a week to an average of 1,801 a day on December 20.

Infections appear to have peaked back on November 29, when they totalled more than 71,000.

But the figures are highly unreliable because mass testing in China was abandoned as part of the Government’s U-turn.

Even the Chinese authorities admit they do not know what the real numbers are — but experts believe the virus is running rampant.

Wang Guangfa, a doctor at Peking University First Hospital, described the surge as a ‘pandemic tsunami’.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus yesterday said: ‘WHO is very concerned over the evolving situation in China, with increasing reports of severe disease.’

Despite the suspected increase, China — which has repeatedly been accused of fiddling its numbers — also reported no new Covid deaths yesterday and subtracted one death from its overall toll, lowering it to 5,241.

The daily tally was issued by the National Health Commission, which did not explain the decrease.

Wang Guiqiang, the head of infectious disease at the same hospital in Peking, confirmed earlier this week that deaths in patients with pre-existing illnesses are not officially counted as Covid deaths.

In most countries, including the UK and US, guidelines stipulate that any death in which Covid is a factor or contributor is counted as a related death.

In effect, Wang’s comments on Tuesday clarified publicly what the country has been doing throughout the pandemic.

Even with underreporting, the latest projection, published in the medical journal Nature, suggest up to a million could die in the coming months.

Professor David Livermore, a microbiologist at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline: ‘China is in for a few grim weeks as zero Covid is unravelled.

‘There will be a major surge of infections.

‘Given China’s vast population and the low rates of vaccination in the vulnerable elderly there will be large numbers of deaths.

‘Those who were vaccinated received killed whole virus vaccines, not western mRNA products.

‘Hong Kong’s experience, back in the spring, was that these killed-virus preparations were less effective in reducing mortality.’

Chinese Covid vaccines — Sinovac and Sinopharm — are widely considered to be less effective than the mRNA vaccines used in most other nations.

The country’s vaccination drive began to tail off in early February, when around 7million people a day were getting a shot.

Booster doses over the summer were virtually non-existent, with people largely protected by stringent Covid measures and mass testing.

But since the policy-change, the virus has been allowed to rip through a population that had largely not been exposed to the virus.

Some of the first projections since the country U-turned on zero Covid suggest hundreds of thousands will die in the coming months

Patients recover at the Baoding No. 2 Central Hospital in Zhuozhou city in northern China’s Hebei province on Wednesday

This picture shows Covid patients on stretchers in the emergency ward of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University in China’s southwestern city of Chongqing on December 22

People queue for a Covid test at a facility in Macau, China, on December 21

Which countries have been worst affected by Covid since the start of the pandemic?

United States

Brazil

India

Russia

Mexico

Peru

United Kingdom

Italy

France

Indonesia

Germany

Iran

Colombia

Argentina

Poland

1,114,931

692,407

530,681

393,220

330,834

217,941

198,271

183,138

160,874

160,466

160,424

144,672

141,996

130,080

118,452

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Experts told MailOnline dropping zero Covid wasn’t the problem — it was dropping it so late after vaccinating the population.

Professor Paul Hunter, another public health expert at UEA, said any weak immunity afforded by the jabs had long run-off by the time measures were abandoned.

And because people were not topped up with immunity afforded by natural infection, they are particularly vulnerable now.

‘Compare this to New Zealand, who lifted their restrictions soon after the vaccination campaign and got away with few deaths even though there was a surge in infections as expected.’

The surge in cases has led some leading to experts to call China the ‘ideal’ breeding ground for risky variants because of how it has been sheltered from previous waves and has a low vaccine uptake.

High infection rates are a ‘cauldron of virus evolution’ which could result in a more lethal and immune-evading variant, they said.

There is little surveillance to check for strains in the country, meaning a new one could appear at any time.

But not all pandemic-watchers are as concerned. The BF.7 Omicron substrain thought to be behind the current outbreak has not been shown to have an advantage on variants in the West.

Professor Hunter said: ‘I don’t think the situation in China will pose a substantial additional risk to many other countries. After all, most of the rest of the world has hybrid immunity.

‘It is said that it is the BF.7 variant of Omicron that is driving the wave in China but at a global scale this variant does not appear to have any growth advantage against other variants.

‘Yes another variant could arise and probably will arise, they are doing so all the time but each new variant seems to have decreasing incremental benefit over previous ones.

‘Also hybrid immunity has provided good cross protection against severe disease from new variants as well as older variants.’

Medical workers push a man past an ambulance at the Baoding No. 2 Central Hospital in Zhuozhou city in northern China’s Hebei province on Wednesday

Hearses queue outside a funeral home in Beijing, China, on December 17, as morgue pack out with Covid patients

World Health Organization names Sir Jeremy Farrar as its new chief scientist

Sir Jeremy Farrar, currently head of the UK’s biggest private research funding body — the Wellcome Trust, originally believed the pandemic have been sparked by ‘Wild West’ virus experiments carried out in the notorious Wuhan site

The influential British scientist who helped crush suggestions that Covid could have leaked from a Chinese laboratory was today named the World Health Organization‘s chief scientist.

Sir Jeremy Farrar, currently head of the UK’s biggest private research funding body — the Wellcome Trust, originally believed the pandemic may have been sparked by ‘Wild West’ virus experiments carried out in the notorious Wuhan site.

But he soon changed his position, co-ordinating an authoritative statement by five top experts that dismissed the idea that the virus may have originated in the lab as merely a conspiracy theory.

Now, the WHO — branded ‘China‘s puppet’ by Donald Trump and critics during the pandemic for bowing to Beijing — has given him one of the most prestigious roles in the world of science.

Critics hit out at the appointment of Sir Jeremy and called for him to come in front of MPs to be ‘pressed hard’ on the origins of the pandemic and failing to challenge the natural origins hypothesis early on.

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Professor Livermore said the less effective jabs used in China are also unlikely to select for vaccine immunity-evading variants.

He said: ‘I don’t think this surge has major implications for the rest of the world.

‘Whilst the Chinese vaccines are not particularly effective they are, at least, targeted against the whole virus, inducing antibodies to multiple viral proteins. This should make it harder for the virus to mutate away from them.

‘The selection pressure for the evolution of new variants appears greatest in someone who has received one of the western mRNA or DNA vaccines and is then infected.

‘These vaccines solely target the virus’s Spike protein, which is highly variable — and it’s this variation that provides the route to vaccine escape.’

While the surge may not pose much of a threat to the rest of the world in terms of new strains, it is an immediate danger in China itself.

A citizen in Shanghai told of deserted streets, closed supermarkets and empty offices as the virus continues to rampage.

‘I think the official numbers are fake, how can a few hundred cases be possible across China?,’ said a 43-year-old man, speaking to MailOnline over an encrypted Signal call, who preferred not to be named.

‘People don’t believe the government numbers. They are not stupid! They will chat among themselves, but never discuss it on social media.

‘Even if they do, the comments will be deleted immediately.’

He and his partner recently contracted Covid themselves and ‘had a fever of 39 degrees, cough, body-ache and a sore throat and stayed in bed for a few days’.

‘Partly we feel happy because of the relaxation of Covid measures, but at the same time we are ill and we need to find ways to get Panadol, electrolytes replenishment drinks and rapid test kits,’ he said.

A lot more people are ill, he believes. ‘Beijing is worse. The Government probably wants all of us to get infected.’

He has a friend in Beijing who said there are many deaths but no actual number being released. ‘My friend said the funeral homes in Beijing cannot cope.’

People testing positive are left to their own devices, he said. ‘The hospital called up my friend about his positive test result, that’s it, he wasn’t told to self-isolate or quarantine.

‘No one will be taken to a quarantine facility anymore if tested positive. Pretty much you sink or swim by yourself.’

He said his ‘conspiracy theory’ was: ‘If people get sick, they won’t be on the streets to protest.’

Unlike in the West, vaccines have not been widely pushed: ‘The Government hasn’t made vaccines compulsory, neither promoted it.

‘Now they’re like “come on, it [Covid] is just like a flu, get it, let it go!” You see this 180-degree change?

‘Since last week, everything has been cancelled. No need to take test at test centres on the street.

‘Some employers don’t require staff to do any Covid tests or show a negative test result.’

But he did tentatively welcome the Chinese Government’s U-turn in dropping its ‘dynamic zero’ Covid policy and relaxing restrictions.

He said: ‘I fear the virus but it’s better to catch it now while everybody does and it seems to have weakened, I’d rather take a risk.

‘The virus might mutate, who knows. But I think if that happens, the Government won’t tell us.’

Visitors line up at the cash counters in Baoding No. 2 Central Hospital in Zhuozhou city in northern China’s Hebei province on Wednesday

People queue for a Covid test at a facility in Macau on December 21

A Covid patient on a stretcher in the emergency ward of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University in China’s southwestern city of Chongqing on December 22

He believes that the government knows how widespread is the virus, he thinks the government was forced to relax the measures because it was getting out of control.

He said his partner’s office, where 50 people normally work is now reduced to a fifth of that number ‘The office spans over two floors, only 10 people went to work, they must either be infected with Covid or related to someone who has been infected.’

And in the streets, usually packed with delivery drivers, little is moving.

He went to the supermarket today and it’s closed, he believed due to Covid infection among staff.

Of the local news reports, he said: ‘News here is not so updated. I don’t know the reality.

‘I heard from a friend in Beijing that there are queues at hospitals, so I think it’s crazy in China, we’re probably not at the peak yet.

‘They tell us the number of cases every day in the news, but people respond “ha ha ha” — they’re used to “news”.’

He said the government still has the same narrative that Covid is imported. He said: ‘They will use terms like “imported” in announcements, but that’s not the focus anymore. No one cares if it’s imported.’

He doesn’t think there’ll be another lock down because so many people are infected now.

‘The point of a lockdown is to stop the spread of the virus, but now the Government is letting people get infected, so there probably won’t be another lockdown.’

If you enjoyed this article…

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Influential panel tells hospitals: Stop mass testing for Covid, it’s a waste of money and doctors’ time

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December 22, 2022

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China's decision to stick with draconian restrictions

Trending

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Don’t Have ‘Major Regrets’ Over Netflix Docuseries: ‘Pleased’ to Share Their Story

It’s all out there! Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have opened up about their royal experience in the Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan, and they are “pleased” with the outcome.

“Meghan and Harry don’t have any major regrets about doing the docuseries, and we’ll be seeing Harry elaborate about his relationship with his family in Spare,” a source exclusively reveals in the latest issue of Us Weekly, referring to the 38-year-old Duke of Sussex’s forthcoming memoir. “While the couple were prepared for the backlash, they’re pleased to have gotten their story out there.”

Harry and the Duchess of Sussex, 41, detailed their early courtship, 2018 royal wedding, life with their two children and the breakdown of their relationships with the royal family in Harry & Meghan, which dropped on the streaming giant earlier this month.

“We’ve never been allowed to tell our story,” the BetterUp CIO — who shares Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 18 months, with the Suits alum — quipped in the second episode. “That’s the consistency.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

Nearly one year after welcoming their son, Harry and Meghan announced in 2020 that they were stepping down from their duties as senior working royals as they relocated to California.

“I miss the weird family gatherings when we’re all sort of brought together under one roof for, you know, certain times of the year — that I miss. Being part of the institution meant that I was in the U.K. So, I miss the U.K. [and] I miss my friends,” Harry revealed during the sixth episode. “I’ve lost a few friends in this process as well. I mean, I came [to California] because I was changed. I changed to the point that I’d outgrown my environment.”

He added at the time: “Therefore, this was the most obvious place to come. You know, it’s one of the places where I think my mom, [Princess Diana], was probably gonna end up living potentially.”

As Harry and Meghan remained focused on their new lives stateside, the duke remained at odds with father King Charles III and brother Prince William, who favored the regal traditions.

“It was hard [seeing them at Prince Philip’s funeral]. Especially spending time, having chats with my brother and my father. [They] were very much focused on the same misinterpretation of the whole situation,” Harry continued in the docuseries, referring to his family reunion in April 2021. “None of us really wanted to have to talk about it at my grandfather’s funeral, but we did. … I’ve had to make peace with the fact that we’re probably never gonna get genuine accountability or a genuine apology. My wife and I, we’re moving on. We’re focused on what’s coming next.”

While neither the Prince of Wales, 40, nor the king, 74, have publicly addressed Harry and Meghan’s documentary claims, a second source told Us that its release was a “thorn in the flesh for William.”

“He’s disappointed with Harry for portraying him and the family in a cynical light,” the insider told Us earlier this month about the Duke of Cornwall. “William was hoping they could move on after the CBS interview, but Harry airing his dirty laundry has only heightened the conflict between the two brothers and resulted in them taking a step-backwards.”

Harry is further expected to discuss his royal history in his Spare memoir, which is set for a January 2023 release.

“Spare takes readers immediately back to one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother’s coffin as the world watched in sorrow — and horror,” Penguin Random House wrote in an October press release, referring to William and Harry attending their mother’s 1997 funeral. “As Diana, Princess of Wales, was laid to rest, billions wondered what the princes must be thinking and feeling—and how their lives would play out from that point on.”

For more on Harry and Meghan’s docuseries and the military veteran’s upcoming memoir, watch the video above and pick up the new issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now.

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December 22, 2022

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It’s all out there! Prince Harry and

Tech

Is this job posting real? How to avoid falling for a scam.

Lisa Miner thought she had found the perfect new job: Earlier this year, the dialysis technician got an offer to be an app developer for CVS Health after passing a skills test administered by a purported recruiter who had reached out via a personal Gmail account. But the job wasn’t just fake — it was a ploy to steal her money.

The quick onboarding process sketched out Miner after the supposed recruiter told her that the company planned to send her a $3,500 certified check to spend with a specific vendor for her work supplies — a process that sounded strange. Instead of immediately ordering her supplies when the check arrived, as she was instructed, Miner waited to see if the check would clear with her bank before spending any of her own money. It didn’t, validating Miner’s fear: She was dealing with a scammer.

Luckily for Miner, who lives in Dallas, Ga., she hadn’t been able to reach her boss to resign — otherwise she could have ended up unemployed.

“How can I really be that dumb?” she remembers asking herself. “I was harder on myself than anything.”

Miner, who applied to openings on job sites such LinkedIn and Indeed and published posts about her job hunt, has company. Experts say scammers are targeting job seekers, a group that is growing as companies across industries continue laying people off, and they are especially going after those pursuing remote positions. Scammers are posting fake job openings on websites and are posing as recruiters in an attempt to steal everything from passwords to money and identities.

“Job scammers are trying to prey on people’s desire to be flexible,” said Sinem Buber, lead economist at job search engine ZipRecruiter. “It’s a peak time because of that.”

Job sites such as ZipRecruiter, LinkedIn and Indeed say they try to weed out fake job listings and employers, though scammers are getting more sophisticated. These websites also offer tools to flag suspicious content in case a scam gets past their screening. Still, many job seekers are airing their horror stories across social media.

But experts say that if you’re looking for a job, even a remote one, don’t fret. There are steps you can take to skip the scams and get the real gig.

“The majority will be legitimate,” said Stacey Perkins, career and leadership coach at recruiting firm Korn Ferry. “You just have to be careful.”

Miner reported the scammer to the FBI, but she hasn’t received a response from the scammer or the FBI since. CVS Health advises job seekers to check the company’s career website to ensure a posting is real. The company also said it will never ask job candidates to join a Google Hangout, purchase their own equipment or pay to apply. And it will never send emails from a third-party email service such as Yahoo or Gmail.

Here are 12 ways you can avoid falling for a job scam, according to job experts.

Avoid opportunities that promote easy money. If it’s too good to be true, it probably is, Perkins and Buber agreed. Job scams often play up little work for big paychecks. And they frequently promote that they are not a scam. “If they have to say that [they are legitimate], it’s a flag,” Perkins said.

Get the details of the job. Legitimate jobs will explain the specific job duties, often in the listing. Be wary of jobs that require you to receive something, repackage it and send it somewhere new, especially if you don’t know the details. During the holidays, scammers may promote gift-wrapping jobs, Buber said. But you could be trafficking illegal materials.

Watch for spelling and grammar. If a post or outreach is riddled with spelling and grammar errors, experts agree that it’s probably a scam. A typo may just be a typo, but if a message is hard to read or full of obvious errors, move on. Also watch for one-letter differences in a company’s name, email or web address, Perkins said.

Research the company. Most companies have a web presence, Buber said. Check the company’s website, and see if it has a LinkedIn account, social media profile or comments on the employee review site Glassdoor, experts advise. Can you connect with others who work there? Can you find an address to its headquarters? Does it actually exist?

Check the trusted sources. The Federal Trade Commission can provide details on cases against companies. And the Better Business Bureau accredits companies it deems trustworthy. Buber said a quick search could save you a headache later.

Look at the sender’s email address and profile. A recruiter or hiring manager should always be communicating with you via their company’s email account, never their personal Gmail or text message, for example. So make sure when responding or writing emails, the address matches the company’s web domain, Perkins said. If they’re reaching out to you on social media, do they have connections or posts? Are they interacting with others? Over how much time?

Pay attention to the process. Companies should be able to spell out their hiring process, Perkins said. If a company is eager to hire quickly and responses come within minutes, those could be red flags, Indeed warned. LinkedIn says employers rarely hire after one remote interview, and Indeed said that is especially true if the interview is over a text-based messaging service. Most employers will connect you to multiple people before you get the job.

Don’t pay for anything. If the employer asks you to pay for materials, training or testing, even if it offers reimbursement, the job is probably a scam, Perkins said. Buber said scammers often send victims a fake check and ask them to pay for something or claim that they need to send some back because an error. Scammers are able to then steal money by cashing in victims’ valid check or payment before the fake check bounces. Scammers could also use you as a money mule, asking you to deposit a valid check and send the same amount somewhere else, Buber said.

Protect your personal information. While applying, don’t give your social security number, pictures of an ID or passport, or any financial details, such as your bank account or credit card number, experts say. “They need your contact information, and that’s it,” Perkins said.

Get all questions answered. Go to every interview with questions, and make sure they get answered. Real employers will view that as interest, and fake ones will panic or avoid answering, Buber said.

Watch for pyramid schemes. Don’t fall for job opportunities in which you get paid only if you lure more people into the operation, Perkins said. Some multilevel marketing companies are legitimate, but many are pyramid schemes.

Trust your instincts. If something feels amiss, it probably is, experts say. So keep moving. “There are 1.7 jobs available for every unemployed person right now,” Buber said. “You will find something.”

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December 22, 2022

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Lisa Miner thought she had found the

Video

Sensual ASMR has boomed on YouTube — but creators are facing a crackdown

Dev Ritchie vividly remembers the first time she experienced ASMR — a feeling of well-being combined with a tingling sensation in the scalp and down the back of the neck, often experienced in response to sound.

She was sitting in a cafe with a friend, who had told Ritchie she wanted to show her something. Ritchie allowed her companion to place a headphone earbud in each of her ears, closed her eyes, and listened to the barbershop-based ASMR video her friend had discovered. Her whole body tingled. Instantly, she was hooked.

She wasn’t alone. According to ASMR University, there are roughly 500,000 ASMR (an abbreviation of autonomous sensory meridian response) channels and 25 million ASMR videos on YouTube alone, and the hashtag #asmr has attracted more than 460 billion views on TikTok. Creators in the space create sound-based content designed to elicit the sensation of ASMR in viewers, often attracting millions of views in the process. The niche involves the recording of specific sounds — often things like tapping or clicking — in striking detail through the use of microphones.

The ASMR niche has given way to a wide range of vloggers who cater to specific themes, like electronic restoration and even barbershop experiences. Ritchie, who now creates her own ASMR content, occupies one of its most controversial subgenres: a genre whose creators dub it sensual ASMR. Videos in the niche often involve the sounds of sexually charged licking, kissing, and “wet” massages, all amplified by the use of microphones.

Sensual ASMR’s popularity pales in comparison to traditional ASMR — Ritchie’s most viewed video, “HOT Step sister gives you HJ ASMR,” has 1.5 million views, while the most viewed ASMR video on YouTube has 407 million. But its appeal is undeniable. Ritchie alone has attracted more than 70,000 subscribers under the name GanjaGoddess, by releasing clips with titles like “Boob Massage ASMR,” “HOT Teacher PUNISHES You ASMR,” and “Moaning and Dirty Talk ASMR.”

“ASMR videos with audio sexual sounds may be age-restricted or removed from the platform.”

Clearly, there is an audience for the content that Ritchie creates — but YouTube doesn’t see the appeal in her line of work. A year ago, Ritchie received a message that explained her videos had been demonetized due to their sexual nature. Since then, the platform has redoubled its efforts to combat the spread of sensual ASMR. In its September 7th policy change announcement, YouTube stated that it had “strengthened our policies to better identify and action ASMR content that is sexually gratifying,” adding that “ASMR videos with audio sexual sounds may be age-restricted or removed from the platform.” Ritchie, like many other creators in her niche, is worried her videos could all be deleted.

Sensual ASMR videos have an undeniable raunchy component, but raunchiness is also a spectrum — purging anything that might be sexually titillating from YouTube would mean removing all kinds of scenes from mainstream films or television. And many creators argue that they aren’t purely about sex. Former model-turned-ASMR vlogger Elcee Orlova feels that the mantras she utters in her videos — which are usually proclamations of love, care, and affection aimed at those watching her clips — are what keep people coming back for more.

“I get comments like, ‘Thank you for your video. No one has ever told me those things in my entire life,’ and, ‘Watching your videos makes me feel a bit less lonely,’” recounts Orlova, who declined to share her age and location with The Verge for privacy reasons. She has attracted more than 40,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel, ASMR GIRLFRIEND, where she uploads videos with titles like “ASMR Girlfriend Gives You A VERY WET Massage” and “ASMR Girlfriend Measures You and Finds Out Your Size.” “I believe my videos can help [those people] feel cared for,” she adds, “and appreciated for who they are.”

Ritchie has similar feelings about her work. “There’s a lot of people out there, whether they want to admit it or not, that are having a lot of issues with loneliness. I call myself their e-girlfriend,” she says. “I take the time to talk to them, I tell them things, and I care about them. That’s going to make them feel better.”

“There’s a lot of people out there … that are having a lot of issues with loneliness.”

In the eyes of ASMR creators, the content they offer up isn’t inherently sexually explicit or in violation of YouTube’s policies. It’s all built around the power of suggestion — and is often used to entice prospective clients who might want to view their more X-rated work. “Most of the traction that I get through YouTube, I use to just funnel into OnlyFans. It’s like a billboard that I kind of get paid for. Like: Now that you see what my tongue can do, come watch me do other things with it,” explains Kaitlyn Siragusa, a 28-year-old sensual ASMR content creator and streamer from Texas, who has amassed more than 8 million Twitch and YouTube followers under the name Amouranth. “I don’t know any girls who only do sensual ASMR,” she adds. “They’re always doing harder stuff [on the side].”

The reluctance of ASMR creators to explicitly label their content as sexual is understandable in the context of YouTube’s policies. The platform does not allow sexual content if its primary purpose is sexual gratification, nor any content that involves “the depiction of sexual acts or fetishes that are meant for sexual gratification.” Its policies also clearly state that links to websites that violate those guidelines — like sexually explicit OnlyFans pages, for example — are not allowed. It doesn’t help that ASMR has often been classed as a fetish, although creators in all of its niches vehemently deny that this is the case. Admitting that their ASMR content is designed to be sexually gratifying, or used to promote X-rated content, could mean that creators risk their videos being banned or their accounts being deleted.

How YouTube’s rules should apply to sensual ASMR is up for debate, and YouTube didn’t return a request for comment on the policy before publication. Creators in this space rely on the art of suggestion. Their videos are not visually sexually explicit, and the reality of what’s occurring — whether it be the licking of an ear-shaped microphone or the squelching of off-screen macaroni — is not necessarily sexually gratifying. YouTube’s enforcement of such policies is also blurry. Clips of someone called “Fetish Pixie” spitting in front of a mirror, as well as spitting compilations of TikTokers, are available on the platform — as well as videos that feature women sucking on each other’s toes or women being tickled while tied up BDSM-style. Like sensual ASMR, none of it depicts sex, but it’s widely recognized as sexually charged.

Not everyone feels that YouTube’s regulations are a bad thing. “To be honest with you, I actually support YouTube’s decision regarding ASMR videos that exist solely for sexual arousal, like kissing and licking the microphone,” says Orlova. “If someone wants to enjoy that kind of content, they can easily switch from YouTube to some other sex-related platform and watch the videos there.”

Others blame an increasingly competitive social media ads market, which has come to a grinding halt this year after years of growth. “I think a lot of it’s a rat race now. There’s so many places people can advertise — Facebook, Twitch, Snapchat, YouTube,” says Siragusa. “The advertising market is getting so saturated now from all these different platforms. I think it’s a race to the bottom for who can be the most advertiser-friendly platform that people go to.” But Ritchie thinks that the popularity of ASMR has made it an easy scapegoat for YouTube, which is frequently under pressure to purge the site of non-family-friendly videos.

“The space for nudity and sexual content online is shrinking.”

Dr. Carolina Are, an innovation fellow at Northumbria University’s Center for Digital Citizens and expert in online moderation and the censorship of nudity, points to the influence of FOSTA-SESTA — a US act designed to curb online sex trafficking, making the hosting of sexual content riskier. “The space for nudity and sexual content online is shrinking, and this is massively worrying not just for sexual expression but also education,” she explains. Over-the-top policies from social media giants have already left safe-sex educators struggling to disseminate information and has even led to the development of “algospeak” due to the censorship of words like “lesbian” and “BDSM,” which entrenches the idea that sexuality and fetish are taboo things best left undiscussed. “It feels like an incredibly patronizing, puritan move,” Are continues. “Like platforms are trying to regulate people’s lives and choices.”

Are also warns that YouTube may not make the distinctions Orlova does between sensual and non-sensual ASMR. “It’s going to bleed onto creators that make non-sexual content anyway because this is what happens with these specific policies,” she says. FOSTA-SESTA, for example, has already led to the inadvertent silencing of queer adult comic artists. “This is very worrying because it means platforms can decide which type of content becomes obsolete or wrong at the flick of a switch.”

Companies, it seems, are mostly at that point. Most social media platforms practice stringent policies around sexual content — Instagram’s famed opposition to the female nipple in all of its forms, Tumblr’s porn ban, and OnlyFans’ almost-decision to remove sexual content creators from its platform are just three examples of social media’s sexual sanitation era — and toeing the line between suggestive and unacceptable content becomes harder every month. It’s left creators feeling frustrated. “I just feel like people should be able to enjoy what they want to enjoy,” says Siragusa. “If listening to girls lick and spit on microphones makes them feel less lonely, I don’t see a problem with that.”

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December 22, 2022

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Dev Ritchie vividly remembers the first time

Entertaintment

Watch Dave Grohl, Daughter Violet Sing Janis Ian’s ‘At Seventeen’ – Rolling Stone

Violet Grohl joined her father and keyboardist Greg Kurstin for the fourth night of Hanukkah Sessions

Dave Grohl was joined by his daughter Violet for the fourth night of Hanukkah Sessions, along with collaborator and keyboardist Greg Kurstin.

Sitting on a stool in front of a live audience at the Largo in Los Angeles, Violet sang Janis Ian’s iconic song, “At Seventeen.” The 1975 hit is described in the video caption as “one of the all-time classic coming-of-age anthems.”

In September, Violet took to the stage at both Taylor Hawkins memorial concerts in London and L.A. And last year, the younger Grohl and her father released a cover of X’s “Nausea,” which originally appears on the band’s 1980 debut album.

The “Hanukkah Sessions,” which was launched by Grohl and Kurstin back in 2020, continues to celebrate the holiday by sharing covers of songs by Jewish artists.

Yesterday, Inara George performed for night three of the Hanukkah Sessions to cover 10cc’s “The Things We Do For Love” with Jack Black and Kyle Gass of Tenacious D as backing vocals. This year’s sessions also featured with Pink, who sang “Get the Party Started” on night two, and Judd Apatow, who took to the stage on the first day to belt the big opening number with a cover of Blood, Sweat and Tears’ “Spinning Wheel.”

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December 22, 2022

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Violet Grohl joined her father and keyboardist

Movies

A Bittersweet Romance Tale Tempered with Light Humour

Last Updated: October 25, 2020, 18:35 IST

Comedy Couple

Cast: Shweta Basu Prasad, Saqib Saleem, Jasmeet Singh Bhatia, Rajesh Tailang

Director: Nachiket Samant

Comedy Couple springs up a pleasant surprise for OTT viewers this week as it clears the clutter in the choice of its subject matter, casting and treatment. The movie sets up with India’s first comic duo, Deep (Saqib Salim) and Zoya (Shweta Basu Prasad), taking the stage and ends up in bashing down on gender and social-cultural norms in a light, humoured way, which mostly sits well as it is neither understated nor over the top.

It is established in the start that the much-in-love ‘Comedy Couple’ are one of a kind. Together, they make rather ‘offensive’ jokes meaningful and digestible for the audience. But problem arises in their personal lives as Deep, without the knowledge of his personal and professional partner, has built their seemingly perfect lives on the foundation of outright lies and it comes back to haunt him.

As and when the couple is confronted with reality and their house of cards crumbles under ego clash and uncertainty about the future, we see humane and relatable characters bared on screen. Credit goes to Saqib and Shweta for relying on their easy-going facet to bring Deep and Zoya alive. Both actors are natural in their approach to the situations and compliment each other well on stage and on camera. The comedy couple’s relationship issues are not overly complicated and neither are these two characters. This gives the movie an authentic and urban edge.

There is everyday humour in director Nachiket Samant’s fresh dramedy and the performers crack you up with one-liners every now and then. From gaumutra (cow urine) to live-in relationships and house hunting in Mumbai to conservative parenthood, there is plenty of fun to be had while watching this rather breezy movie, streaming on ZEE5 now.

Comedy Couple will interest you certainly with its everyday humour and a solid dialogue-driven screenplay.

Rating: 3.5/5

Read all the Latest News and Breaking News here

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December 22, 2022

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Last Updated: October 25, 2020, 18:35 ISTComedy

Film

Palm Springs International Film Awards To Present The Fabelmans With The Vanguard Award

The Palm Springs International Film Awards has announced that The Fabelmans is the recipient of the Vanguard Award. The Vanguard Award is a group honor distinguishing a film’s cast and director in recognition of their collective work on an exceptional film project. The award will be presented to director Steven Spielberg and cast members Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, Gabriel LaBelle and Judd Hirsch who are all expected to attend. The Film Awards will take place in-person on January 5, 2023 at the Palm Springs Convention Center, with the festival running through January 16, 2023. The event will be presented by American Express and sponsored by Entertainment Tonight and IHG Hotels & Resorts.

“The Fabelmans is an achievement not only as a deeply personal portrait of Steven Spielberg’s childhood, but also as a profoundly universal story that each and every one of us can relate to. Giving audiences a glimpse at Spielberg’s early love for movies and moviemaking, the film features a tremendous ensemble performance by Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, Gabriel LaBelle and Judd Hirsch, making it one of the must-see films of the year,” said Festival Chairman Harold Matzner. “It is our honor to present the Vanguard Award to The Fabelmans.”

Past recipients of the Vanguard Award include Academy Award Best Picture winners Green Book and The Shape of Water as well as Best Picture nominees Belfast, La La Land, Little Miss Sunshine and The Trial of the Chicago 7. The Fabelmans joins this year’s previously announced honorees Cate Blanchett (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress), Colin Farrell (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor), Sarah Polley (Director of the Year Award) and Michelle Yeoh (International Star Award).

Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans is a cinematic memory of the forces, and family, that shaped the filmmaker’s life and career. A universal coming-of-age story about an isolated young man’s pursuit of his dreams, the film is an exploration of love, artistic ambition, sacrifice and the moments of discovery that allow us to see the truth about ourselves, and our parents, with clarity and compassion. The Amblin Entertainment film stars Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, Gabriel LaBelle and Judd Hirsch and is released by Universal Pictures.

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December 22, 2022

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The Palm Springs International Film Awards

Witcher’s third season to be a “heroic sendoff” to Henry Cavill

Who does Henry Cavill work for? This a strange question to ask about a guy who played Superman, Geralt of Rivia, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. With so many iconic characters under his belt, the last two months of career politicking left him out of one job, then out of another one. Now that Cavill is heading to Warhammer 40k, the producers of Witcher still have another season of the show to sell. Thankfully, the people that make Witcher haven’t abandoned the project and are pretty generous in the face of such a shake-up.

Speaking to EW, showrunner Lauren Hissrich explained how Geralt’s character would grow this season and what it means for the show in the future. Hissrich even goes as far as to call the Cavill’s final season a “heroic sendoff.”

“Geralt’s big turn is about giving up neutrality and doing anything that he has to do to get to Ciri,” Hissrich said. “And to me, it’s the most heroic sendoff that we could have, even though it wasn’t written to be that. Geralt has a new mission in mind when we come back to him in season 4. He’s a slightly different Geralt than we expected. Now, by the way, that’s an understatement.”

Last month, the Cavill quit his hit Netflix series The Witcher to pursue a return of his Superman. Black Adam kicked off a two-month-long victory lap for Cavill in the DC Universe, making good on that changing of the hierarchy of power business that the Rock was so taken with. Unfortunately, Warner Bros. Discovery did that without him and named James Gunn and Peter Safran the heads of DC Studios. Gunn and Safran set forth wiping the slate clean on the Snyder Verse, including, we found out yesterday, Black Adam. Most embarrassingly for Cavill, who announced his return to the big blue suit in October, the actor had to retract his announcement.

Meanwhile, everyone’s favorite Hemsworth, Liam, will take over for Cavill on Witcher. So while this is probably a stressful time for the Cavill household, at least the Hemsworths are picking up wins. Considering that Liam’s brother has been running around with the Avengers for a decade, it must be relieving to have a franchise on which Liam can hang his hat.

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December 22, 2022

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Henry CavillPhoto: Jay Maidment (Netflix)Who does Henry

What to Watch

The Best Man: Final Chapters

The Best Man: Final Chapters is now available to watch on Peacock.

Let us know what you thought in the comments below and vote in the poll.

NOTE: Obviously people will be posting their thoughts/reactions to the season as a whole, so there will be spoilers in the comments. We advise you not to read the comments until you have watched the whole season.

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December 22, 2022

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The Best Man: Final Chapters is now

Awards

Jon Landau On How Sequel Survived Disney-Fox Merger, Pandemic & More – Deadline

Warning: This podcast contains minor spoilers about Avatar: The Way of Water
Despite being the highest grossing movie ever at $2.9 billion, Avatar isn’t your run-of-the-mill franchise.

It doesn’t have the Star Wars toys sales, nor does it have the rabid fandom associated with Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. How can a series like this maintain its momentum 13 years after the first movie was released? Especially a movie about blue aliens? Producer Jon Landau provides insight to the series’ appeal on Crew Call today.

You can listen to our conversation below:

Avatar: The Way of Water has survived a corporate merger, multiple delays, the year-long closure of exhibition and the pandemic itself.

In regards to the sequel staying relevant, Landau likes to say, “If you make a good movie, people are going to come back.”

“We’re a third of the amount of time that it took for (Top Gun): Maverick to come back,” he adds.

“What Jim has done in the Avatar Pandora world, he’s put in timeless stories with universal themes,” Landau tells us.

“Imperial forces coming back and invading an indigenous population. Those things don’t go away. In some ways what he wrote years ago, is more timely today,” the producer explains.

“If you think about this, the Sullys are refugees. They are forced to flee their home and seek refuge in a clan that doesn’t look like them,” explains Landau.

While Avatar: The Way of Water came in under its weekend projections, opening at $134.1M stateside and under a half billion worldwide, many consider that largely due to the high demand for and low supply of premium auditoriums (i.e. Imax and Dolby) which is where audiences are buying out seats. The pic’s midweek grosses have held up and all eyes are on Avatar 2‘s potential holding pattern through the holiday.

Cameron and Landau are set on changing the narrative of cinema, from saying “I saw a movie to I experienced a movie,” says the Titanic Oscar winning producer.

While the pandemic closed movie theaters and prompted streamers to turn consumer viewing habits upside down, Landau is confident about the big screen winning out.

He paraphrases a New York Times article from March 1983.

“‘Entertainment can be had today at a cut-rate at home, and that’s exactly the way people are going to see their movies: The entertainment business as we know it is going to die,’” recalls the producer.

“I’m sure there was a similar article in ’56 for television,” he continues, “Let’s make an analogy to the music industry. We can do Spotify, we can do Pandora, we can do all these things, (but) nothing replaces the live concert. Cinema is that experience. Cinema is the live concert equivalent.”

“It’s not just about the communal experiences of it, it’s about the social commitment that you make when you go to the movies. You make a commitment to turn off your phone, to not talk to the people you’re around. I think people crave being part of that social system,” adds Landau.

Landau also expounds on upping the stakes of 3D in Avatar 2, what’s yet to come in Avatar 3 & 4, and more.

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December 22, 2022

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Warning: This podcast contains minor spoilers about

Docs

Buffy Sainte-Marie biography and career timeline | American Masters

An Oscar-winning Indigenous artist who rose to prominence in New York’s Greenwich Village folk music scene, Buffy Sainte-Marie has had a six-decade groundbreaking career as a singer-songwriter, social activist, educator and artist. This timeline explores Sainte-Marie’s life and the major milestones in her career.

1941

Born on a Plains Cree First Nation reserve in Saskatchewan, Buffy
Sainte-Marie was adopted as an infant and raised in Maine and
Massachusetts.

1941

1944

Sainte-Marie begins showing an interest in music and starts playing the
piano at the age of 3.

1944

1963

Sainte-Marie graduated with honors from the University of Massachusetts, and then moved to New York where she started playing the coffeehouse folk music scene alongside other Canadian icons.

1963

PHOTO: GBRC37 Buffy Sainte-Marie at the Gaslight Cafe, 1964

1963

That same year, she wrote the anti-war protest anthem Universal Soldier
and was already performing it in coffeehouses, but was banned from singing it on the radio and TV until 1965.

1963

1964

Sainte-Marie’s First Album

Her debut album releases, “It’s My Way!”

Sainte-Marie was named “Best New Artist” by Billboard Magazine.

1964

1965

Released “Many A Mile.”

1965

PHOTO: GBRCB9 Buffy Sainte-Marie on the subway in New York City, September 21, 1964.

1966

Released “Little Wheel Spin And Spin.”

1966

1967

Released “Fire & Fleet & Candlelight.”

1967

1968

She guest starred on NBC’s “The Virginian,” where she only agreed to do so after requesting all Indian roles be played by Native Americans.

1968

PHOTO: 2HPFF9D Buffy Sainte-Marie Circa 1980’s Credit: Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch

1968

Released “I’m Gonna Be A Country Girl Again.”

1968

1969

An Electronic Pioneer

She released her album Illuminations, which is considered to be a groundbreaking work of early electronic music.

1969

She created the Cradleboard Teaching Project, an ongoing effort to teach native children core subjects like science from an indigenous perspective.

Cradleboard was a spinoff of the Nihewan Foundation for Native American Education, which she founded in 1969.

1969

She appears on the Johnny Cash Show where they sing “Custer,” a ballad
about General George Custer who led his men to death in the Battle of the
Little Bighorn.

1969

1960s-1970s

She suspects her music is being blacklisted from US radio due to strong
environmental and indigenous rights messaging.

1960s-1970s

PHOTO: Buffy Sainte-Marie at the Hotel Albert in NYC, 1964

1970

Released “The Best of Buffy Sainte-Marie.”

1970

1971

Released “She Used To Wanna Be A Ballerina” and “The Best of Buffy Sainte-Marie, Vol. 2.”

1971

1972

Elvis records “Until It’s Time for You to Go” written by Buffy Sainte-Marie.

1972

1973

Released “Quiet Places.”

1973

PHOTO: 2JJEA4F BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE Canadian singer in July 1965. Photo: Tony Gale

1974

Released “Buffy” and “Native North American Child.”

1974

1975

Released “Changing Woman.”

1975

1976

Released “Sweet America.”

Her son was born and she quit recording after releasing 15 albums and
became a regular on “Sesame Street” between 1976 and 1981.

1976

1977

Sainte-Marie Marks a Television Milestone

She breastfed her son on “Sesame Street,” one of the first times breastfeeding was depicted on TV.

1977

1978

Sainte-Marie lent support alongside Muhammad Ali for the Longest Walk in support of American-Indian rights.

1978

1979

She was featured on a Supersisters trading card used to celebrate famous
women.

1979

1982

The First Indigenous Oscar Winner

She won an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for co-writing the song
“Up Where We Belong,” used in the 1982 romantic drama “An Officer and
a Gentleman” and sung by Jennifer Warnes and Joe Cocker.

1982

1984

She starts recording music and making art on a Macintosh computer.

1984

1992

Released “Coincidence and Likely Stories.”

1992

1993

She acted in the TV movie “The Broken Chain” with Pierce Brosnan.

1993

1995

Sainte-Marie was Inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

1995

1996

Won a Genie for her 1996 TV special “Buffy Sainte-Marie: Up Where We
Belong.”

1996

2009

Released “Running for the Drum” and was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame
in 2009.

2009

2010

Sainte-Marie was awarded a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award in 2010.

2010

2015

Released “Power In the Blood.” “Power in the Blood” won the Polaris Music Prize and received three 2016 JUNO nominations.

2015

2017

Released “Medicine Songs” and collaborates with Tanya Tagaq on “You Got to Run.”

2017

2018

Andrea Warner writes an authorized biography of Buffy Sainte-Marie with a foreword by
Joni Mitchell.

2018

2020

She published her first children’s book about pet adoption, “Hey Little
Rockabye.”

2020

Won the Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize awarded to her debut album It’s My Way, for impact and cultural relevance decades after its release.

2020

2022

Publishes her children’s books “Tâpwê and the Magic Hat” “Still this Love Goes On.”

2022

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December 21, 2022

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An Oscar-winning Indigenous artist who rose to

Global

Mounties seek help finding ‘high-risk’ 22-year-old missing from Coquitlam – BC

Police in Coquitlam, B.C. are seeking public assistance to find a “high-risk” 22-year-old woman who has not been seen since Sunday.

Zailey Smith was last spotted leaving her home near Clarke Road and Como Lake Avenue. A Wednesday news release did not specify why she is considered to be at extra risk.

“Zailey is known to frequent Vancouver and the Metrotown area of Burnaby. Police and family are concerned for Zailey’s wellbeing,” wrote Coquitlam RCMP.

B.C. RCMP seize huge cache of guns, parts, ammunition from alleged firearm trafficker

Smith is described as a white woman, five-feet-two-inches tall with long brown hair, hazel eyes and a slim build. She was last seen wearing a black winter jacket, light grey leggings, black shoes and a black cross body bag.

Story continues below advertisement

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the detachment at 604-945-1550 and quote file number 2022-33540, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 to remain anonymous.

Click to play video: 'Search for high-risk, missing female hiker expands near Victoria'

1:53
Search for high-risk, missing female hiker expands near Victoria

&copy 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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December 21, 2022

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Police in Coquitlam, B.C. are seeking public

Tech

YouTube TV Nearing NFL Sunday Ticket Deal

Google’s YouTube TV is close to getting over the goal line on a rich deal for the NFL’s Sunday Ticket out-of-market games subscription package in the U.S., according to multiple reports.

If the pact goes through, starting with the 2023 NFL season, YouTube TV would become the exclusive home to Sunday Ticket after the package rolls off DirecTV, which has hosted it for nearly three decades. The “advanced talks” for Sunday Ticket between YouTube and the NFL were first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Google has “discussed” paying the NFL $2.5 billion per year for Sunday Ticket, the New York Times reported. The league also could receive additional payments from Google for performance targets, such as fees based on the number of YouTube TV subscribers gained through the football package. Since 2015, DirecTV has paid about $1.5 billion annually for Sunday Ticket rights.

Reps for the NFL and YouTube declined to comment.

In addition to YouTube, others said to have been in the months-long negotiations for Sunday Ticket rights included Apple, Amazon and ESPN. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell earlier this year had indicated the package would be going to a streamer as the option that was “best for consumers.”

Sunday Ticket’s move from DirecTV to YouTube TV would reflect the broader industry evolution from traditional TV to streaming platforms. DirecTV, which AT&T spun off in August 2021 in a deal with TPG Capital, has suffered ongoing subscriber declines (as has the rest of the pay-TV industry) and the satellite/streaming provider opted to decline to renew the Sunday Ticket deal. DirecTV has an estimated 1.5 million-2 million subscribers for Sunday Ticket. For the 2022 season, DirecTV’s pricing for Sunday Ticket started at $293.94.

For YouTube TV, Sunday Ticket has the potential to pull in a wave of new subscribers. This summer, Google said YouTube TV had more than 5 million customers (including those on free trials), making it the biggest internet TV service in the U.S.

Sunday Ticket first launched in 1994 on DirecTV, and in the U.S. it has been the only way to (legally) watch all of the NFL’s regular-season Sunday daytime matchups.

The NFL’s Sunday Ticket remains the only piece of the league’s media-rights puzzle that has not been locked up into the next decade. Last year, the NFL inked a set of massive deals with Disney, Fox, Paramount Global, NBCUniversal and Amazon that will keep most of its games with traditional media companies through 2033.

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December 21, 2022

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Google’s YouTube TV is close to getting

Video

From Hanukkah to Ramadan, We Need a Little More Than Christmas on Our Screens (Guest Blog)

Even in this era of prestige television on cable networks and streaming platforms, I still watch broadcast television. In fact, most of my favorite television series still live there, one of which is “The Goldbergs” on ABC. As director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council Hollywood Bureau, I have never consulted on the series, but I have always loved the show. Just like the retired “Black-ish” and “Fresh off the Boat,” “The Goldbergs” moves its audience through various issues important to the family’s heritage, with the added touch of being period specific. So subtle, yet so effective.

“The Goldbergs” takes place during my formative years, the 1980s. The latest “Christmas” episode, “Worst Grinch Ever,” where overbearing mother Beverly Goldberg worked frantically to discourage her daughter and son-in-law from exposing their newborn to Christmas, deeply resonated with me. In it, Beverly claims that giving in to even the smallest of activities like innocuous Christmas stories and songs could be the beginning of losing touch with their Jewish identity and holidays — in this case, Hanukkah. Muslims don’t “celebrate” Christmas either, but Beverly had a point even as she was overreacting as usual.

American Muslims have long celebrated the Christmas season in different ways. Many of my Muslim brothers and sisters choose to celebrate as more of a yearly cultural touchstone than a strictly religious event. Some, like my own immigrant parents, took Beverly’s approach and instilled in us that the slightest participation can be a rabbit hole and to hold on tight to our own heritage.

Throughout the episode, the various characters react with things that my sister and I said to our parents almost verbatim, as we tried desperately to assimilate and convince our parents to let us celebrate the best holiday ever. The “Worst Grinch Ever” episode brought up some memories that I chuckled at and then went on to reflect on my own experiences. Growing up, and this is not an exaggeration, the Obeidi home was the only one in our neighborhood without a Christmas tree or festive lights. My sister and I begged my parents for even the smallest tree so that everyone passing by could see that we were just like them. But the reality was that we were different, and it took decades to embrace and love that.

As a Muslim growing up in a predominantly Christian country, I had to fast from sunrise to sunset for 30 days during Ramadan, and while we got our token gifts to commemorate Eid (the end of Ramadan), we had no decorations, cool songs or even greeting cards to mark our holiday. So we compensated with Christmas songs in our house because they were warm and inviting. My favorite Christmas song is still “We Need a Little Christmas.” We couldn’t wait for the Christmas episodes of our favorite television shows to air because they were fun and joyous and they marked the beginning of winter break.

In a country where Christmas is the predominant winter holiday, it is natural for it to be so well represented on TV, and I am not advocating to change that. However, there are so many more opportunities for inclusion and frankly, new story ideas, that we are just leaving on the table. “Spirited,” Apple TV+’s fun new musical reimagining of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” for example, not only boasts a diverse (and star-studded) cast but also fully acknowledges other holidays – including Ramadan – all within what remains a Christmas movie. We live in a multicultural world, so let’s not forget that during the holidays.

I still love the Christmas season. It’s a time where everyone of all faiths (and no faith) seem a little kinder. It’s hard to be a Grinch with twinkling lights on every other rooftops and the smell of pine in the air. A few weeks ago, I asked my 12-year-old niece, who goes to a predominantly Jewish school in Los Angeles, how she felt about being one of the few Muslims at the school. Her response was refreshing: “I kind of like it.” What a difference five decades make. Let’s make sure that there are holiday shows for her, too.

As director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council’s Hollywood Bureau, Sue Obeidi works with studio executives, producers, directors, and writers to create authentic, accurate and fair portrayals of Islam and of Muslims in film, television, and on digital platforms. Her goal, and that of the Hollywood Bureau, is to help the entertainment industry tell better stories about Islam and Muslims, a need that is now more pressing than ever. The Hollywood Bureau’s consulting credits include film and TV projects with Participant Media, CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox, Showtime, FX, Hulu, Super Deluxe Television, and Nat Geo.

Disney+’s ‘The Santa Clauses’ Series Is Keeping the Entire Tim Allen Franchise in Demand | Charts

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December 21, 2022

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Entertaintment

Journey Neal Schon Files Cease&Desist Against Bandmate for Trump Rally

The members of long-running rock band Journey have long had fractious relations, but an inter-band cease-and-desist order is a new peak: Keyboardist Jonathan Cain, who performed “Don’t Stop Believin’” for Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago last month with a backing “chorus” including Marjorie Taylor Greene, Kimberly Guilfoyle and Kari Lake, was served with a cease-and-desist order from an attorney for bandmate Neal Schon for that performance.

Cain, Schon and estranged singer Steve Perry are the writers of the 1981 hit, which attained a second life when nearly 30 years later when it was featured in the final episode of the HBO hit series “The Sopranos.”

Cain, 71, has long been a member of the former president’s inner circle. His wife of eight years, Paula White, is a televangelist and Donald Trump’s spiritual advisor.

The letter, obtained by Variety, reads in part: “Although Mr. Cain is free to express his personal beliefs and associations, when he does that on behalf of Journey or for the band, such conduct is extremely deleterious to the Journey brand as it polarizes the band’s fans and outreach. Journey is not, and should not be, political.

“Mr. Cain has no right to use Journey for politics,” the letter continues. “His politics should be his own personal business. He should not be capitalizing on Journey’s brand to promote his personal political or religious agenda to the detriment of the band,” calling it a “harmful use of the brand.”

Marjorie Taylor Greene, Kimberly Guilfoyle, and Kari Lake sang “Don’t Stop Believin’” along with Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain at a recent event with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. pic.twitter.com/dvSp1z62BX

— PatriotTakes ?? (@patriottakes) November 23, 2022

The missive goes onto state it does not intend to “further add to the animosity that is currently plaguing the band and the relationship between Mr. Schon and Mr. Cain,” which has been acrimonious for a while now.

“The two haven’t been getting along for a while now,” says an inside source. “This just brings it all to the surface.”

Indeed, the two squared off legally earlier in the fall, with Schon contending that he being denied access to the group’s American Express card and its records. Meanwhile, Cain’s lawyer says that Schon’s access to the corporate account needed to have a lid put on it after he allegedly put more than $1 million in “improper personal expenses” on the card.

Schon and Perry previously expressed their displeasure over Trump using the song during his campaign rallies over his earlier election campaigns, as have artists ranging from the Rolling Stones and Aerosmith to Tom Petty. However, since such airings are considered public performances, there is little an artist can tangibly do except publicly distance themselves from the association.

Schon said in 2020, “I’ve stated how I felt about mixing religion and politics and how our music is not of one religion — Democratic or Republican. This is and has been an issue with myself, Mr. Cain and his wife. I’ve had to fight this whole time to protect the brand I built with Steve Perry, way before Gregg [Rolie] and I picked Cain to replace himself when he wanted to retire from the road back then. Well frankly, I’m tired of having to defend all by myself.”

The Mar-A-Lago performance was met with chagrin by many fans on social media. “That just ruined the song and the band for me,” one wrote, while another tweeted, “Goodbye Journey… you’re dead to me now.”

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December 21, 2022

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Allu Arjun Congratulates Team Kantara; Sai Pallavi Reportedly Approached For Pushpa 2

Last Updated: December 21, 2022, 21:58 IST

Kantara and Sai Pallavi were among the top newsmakers on Wednesday.

From Allu Arjun congratulating team Kantara to Sai Pallavi being approached for Pushpa 2; here are the top headlines of the day.

Telugu star Allu Arjun has finally congratulated the team of Kannada blockbuster Kantara on the film’s phenomenal success at the box office nationwide. This is the first time when Allu Arjun has reacted to Rishab Shetty’s film in public. Allu Arjun was speaking at a pre-release event of an upcoming Telugu movie 18 Pages, when he said that it’s a “proud moment” for the entire South film industry as the year 2022 witnessed several South movies including KGF: Chapter 2, Pushpa, Kantara and Karthikeya 2.

ALSO READ: Allu Arjun Reacts to Rishab Shetty’s Kantara for 1st Time in Public, Says ‘It’s a Proud Moment…’

The makers of Pushpa 2 are reportedly in the talks with Sai Pallavi to play a key role in Allu Arjun starrer. As reported by Siasat.com, if Sai Pallavi gives her nod for the story, director Sukumar is ready to get her on board. Sukumar has reportedly written a strong and memorable tribal girl character for the film and is considering Sai for the role. We can expect an approximate runtime of 20 minutes for the scenes featuring Allu Arjun and Sai Pallavi, according to the report. Aishwarya Rajesh is the second option for the makers in case Sai declines the offer.

ALSO READ: Rashmika Mandanna Replaced By Sai Pallavi in Allu Arjun Starrer Pushpa 2? Here’s What We Know

In the recent episode of Bigg Boss 16, we saw a massive fight between MC Stan and Shalin Bhanot. THe two hurled abuses at each other with the latter repeatedly mentioning that he wishes to slap the actor. The rapper alleged that Shalin used abusive words for his parents and therefore he will not tolerate it. This has left Shalin Bhanot’s fans disappointed and furious. Several fans have now urged Shalin’s parents to file a complaint against MC Stan for allegedly threatening somebody on national television. They have also urged the makers of the show to take strict action against the rapper.

ALSO READ: Bigg Boss 16: Shalin Bhanot’s Fans Demand Action Against MC Stan After He Threatens ‘Ghar Se Uthate Hai’

Gauahar Khan left everyone surprised on Tuesday after the actress announced that she is expecting her first child with husband Zaid Darbar. A day after, it has now been reported that Gauahar is already five months pregnant. Yes, if a report by E-times is to be believed, Begum Jaan actress is five months pregnant and her baby is due in April 2023. Gauahar Khan announced her pregnancy on Tuesday with an adorable animated video and wrote, “Bismillah hir Rahmaan nir Raheem . Need all your love and prayers . ♥️ Ma sha Allah! @pixiedustdesign showering their best on us from our wedding to this beautiful new journey too.”

ALSO READ: Gauahar Khan Is 5 Months Pregnant, Baby Is Due In April 2023: Report

Urfi Javed recently reacted to former deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi’s comment on same-sex marriage. The BJP member had said in his Rajya Sabha speech that marriage is sacred and only meant as a relationship between a man and a woman. Reacting to this, the Bigg Boss OTT fame penned a long note and slammed the politician for his stance. She mentioned that in ancient Hinduism, lesbians, gays, transgenders were not only accepted but also allowed to be married. Urfi further asked the politician not to force his ‘personal agenda’ on others.

ALSO READ: Urfi Javed Says Lesbians, Gays Were Accepted in Ancient Hinduism After MP Sushil Kumar Modi’s Same-Sex Marriage Remarks

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December 21, 2022

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Last Updated: December 21, 2022, 21:58 ISTKantara

Entertaintment, TV

Jack Ryan Season 3 Episode 2 – Old Friends, New Enemies

We last left Jack Ryan having been betrayed by his own agency, and with nowhere to go, or it would seem. Jack continues to try and prove his innocence in Greece while also trying to find a way a way to stop Sokol, all this while trying to stay alive. In this episode we see him run into an old Ally and an old friend, one things for sure, he’s definitely making new enemies.

The official synopsis for this episode reads “Jack, out in the cold and on the run after the fallout from his failed operation in Greece, must evade authorities both foreign and domestic before receiving help from an old friend.”

SPOILERS AHEAD FOR JACK RYAN SEASON 3 EPISODE 2

Once again the show opens with a flashback, we now know that the General’s second in command, Luka (James Cosmo) who we see looking over the dead bodies inside Matoksa and ordering them killed at the start of the first episode is the older man we saw in the first episode.

Courtesy of Amazon Studios

We start the episode with James Greer in Rome, he is attempting to send Jack help covertly, and he does so through a local bakery by sending him money, and a message that will get him help in Greece. Meanwhile Elizabeth is gearing up to bring Jack in, and Greer is going along for the ride, and it’s safe to say these two are not very civil.

Meanwhile in Greece, Jack has been laying low, until now. We first see him tailing the hitman who killed Yuri, and in true Jack Ryan fashion, he tries to get a picture of him, he succeeds, but gets caught in the process. Resulting in a chase throughout the streets of Greece. Jack then loses him in a local fishmarket.

As soon as he’s safe, we see him send a text to an unknown number reading “The scientist is dead, you lied to me,” further deepening the mystery of what exactly happened with Yuri and why he died.

Luka tells the new defense minister, Alexi Petrov (Alexej Manvelov), “someone, is playing a very dangerous game,” he tells him he think the Americans are innocent and that the assassination was a lot closer to home. He has no idea how right he is.

When Greer and Elizabeth arrive in Greece, they meet the chief of police and who should be standing right next to him, but the blonde hitman who killed Yuri and is hunting Jack, Konstantin Vyatkin. Now we get a clearer picture at exactly what kind of person Jack and Greer are dealing with. The police think Jack killed one of their own and have issued a red notice for his arrest, but Greer is determined to find him first.

After Jack finally retrieves the money Greer sent him, and the address of a place he could go next, he manages to send out a secret message to an old friend. When Jack finally makes it to garage at the address Greer sent him, he realizes it belongs to Tony (Numan Acar), the smuggler who he punched in Season 1 . Despite this, Tony still hid Jack when when Greer and Elizabeth came knocking and when Konstantin came tearing the place apart with the cops. Thanks to him we have a better understanding of who Konstantin could be. When Tony explains that around Greece, he gives the orders, especially to local police, Jack figures out he must be GRU, and he comes to the realization that whoever gave the order to kill Yuri is probably military.

While Petrov is speaking to Luka, he brings up Jack Ryan, he goes on to say This American intelligence officer has proven to be more relentless than expected, he asks for his help. Now keep this in mind, as it proves to be incredibly important towards the end of the episode.

Soon after we see Jack take Tony’s truck to an airfield outside of Greece, where he meets up with that old friend of

Courtesy of Amazon Studios

his, Mike November (Michael Kelley) from season 2. He flies Jack out to Santorini, Greece.

Remember everything that happened this episode? Well I sure hope you do. Cause here comes the major reveal. When Mike November asks Jack “So you gonna tell me what the fuck you’re sitting on, or do I have to guess?” It begs the question, has there been more to this all along, was this more than just about being burned by the CIA? Who is Jack’s source?

We see Jack send one last text message, and it is answered by none other than Luka himself! Luka even received the previous text from Jack. The question now is, how did Luka end up as a source for the Americans? Who ordered Popov’s murder? And who ordered Yuri dead?

This season has a lot more political intrigue than the one’s before, but unlike season 1 and 2, season 3 sees multiple different storylines taking place, and it’s all connected. Each episode furthers this conspiracy more, and at the middle of it all is Jack Ryan. If you want to watch a really thrilling action packed film, with both drama and hints of comedy, that is spread out across 8 hours, this would be be it.

Jack Ryan season 3 is now out on Amazon Prime.

December 21, 2022

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We last left Jack Ryan having been

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The Way Of Water Cast Guide

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December 21, 2022

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‘Yellowjackets’ Adds Melanie Lynskey’s Husband Jason Ritter as a Guest Star in Season 2

‘Yellowjackets’ Adds Melanie Lynskey’s Husband Jason Ritter as a Guest Star in Season 2 | Entertainment Tonight

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December 21, 2022

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Entertaintment, TV

Jack Ryan Season 3 Premiere – Where Does Jack Go From Here?

We have seen a lot in the past 2 seasons of Jack Ryan, an undercover terrorist cell, international espionage, but what’s coming this season, is something none of us could have predicted.

“This was definitely the most action-packed season we’ve had so far,” said John Krasinski, “Knowing that the audience was going to have three years in between the two seasons, we wanted to make it really fun and really exciting. And running away from the CIA is as dangerous as anything we could think of for Jack to do.”

SPOILERS AHEAD FOR JACK RYAN SEASON 3 EPISODE 1

Season 3 starts with a flashback to 1969 Russia, during the Cold War. The Sokol project, a project founded during the fall of the USSR to develop nuclear weapons is terminated, along with the scientists behind it under the watchful eye of the second in command, Luka.

Flash forward to Rome, Jack is back in the field as a case officer, with his hands deep in some old school undercover work, investigating the Sokol project along with James Greer (Wendell Pierce). While undercover he has a secret rendezvous with an asset named Zoya who hands him an encrypted Sim card. As Jack soon learns from her, this project which was thought to be long gone has not only been reactivated, but has built a weapon. However Jack’s new by the book boss Elizabeth Wright (Betty Gabriel) is very skeptical and does not seem to like Jack much.

One thing to keep in mind about this episode is that there’s a lot of political drama going behind the scenes as well. The president of the Czech Republic, Alena Kovac (Tar’s Nina Hoss) is having peace talks with the Russian Minister of Defense, Dmitry Popov (Michael Gor). Later on in the episode we see the minister assassinated at a Football match.

Courtesy of Amazon Studios

When Jack finds the supposed location of the weapon on a cargo ship in the Black Sea, he goes after it along with some help, but when his target turns out to be not a weapon but one of the main Scientists working on the Sokol project named Yuri, things get a lot more complicated. After a narrow escape from the ship, Jack and Yuri make it to Greece, but the two along with their team in Greece are ambushed and Jack’s team is killed.

Courtesy of Amazon Studios

Now on the run, Jack must find a way to keep this asset alive and stop what’s to come, if only it were that easy. In Athens, once again Jack and Yuri are ambushed, this time by local police as well, Yuri is shot in the back, when Jack takes him inside a house to hide, Yuri is killed by a rogue agent who is now searching for Jack.

Jack turns to his agency for help, when Jack found out about the murder of the Minister of Defense, he realized, that was only the first domino falling. When speaking to Elizabeth who insisted Jack go to the safe house, she goes on to to say “The official line out of the Greek Government is that you entered the country illegally to eliminate a russian national, and in the process, killed one of their own,” this makes Jack come to the realization that he’s been burned, and that after everything that had happened in Athens, they were now looking for a fall guy.

Courtesy of Amazon Studios

Things have got dangerously complicated for Jack Ryan, as he faces two choices. Turn himself in and be blamed for a crime he didn’t commit, or run, and find out the truth about what’s to come.

In what what probably one of the best Jack Ryan season premieres, we see John Krasinski deliver an absolutely brilliant performance, in a pulse pounding episode that was the perfect way to kickoff the long awaited season 3. There is still a lot more to come as Jack faces his greatest threat yet. Betrayal.

Jack Ryan season 3 is now out on Amazon Prime.

December 21, 2022

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We have seen a lot in the

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Sundance Institute Announces Short Film Projects for 2023 Film Festival

Sundance Institute Announcement

Recently, Sundance Institute announced the Short Films and Indie Episodic projects selected for the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. For in-person attendees, Indie Episodic works will have individual premieres and Shorts will screen in curated programs. Beginning January 24, all Indie Episodic projects and selected Shorts will also screen online through the end of the Festival. The 2023 Festival will take place January 19–29, 2023, in person in Park City, Salt Lake City, and the Sundance Resort, along with a selection of films available online across the country January 24–29, 2023.

Courtesy of Sundance Institute

In addition, Online Ticket Packages are now on sale and the full schedule of in-person and online screenings is now live!

“Short films and episodic projects are an integral aspect of the overall mission of the Sundance Institute — to empower artists who are taking risks, bringing new perspectives to the forefront, and creating work that entertains and provokes conversation,” said Kim Yutani, Sundance Film Festival Director of Programming. “These platforms provide artists with the ability to expand beyond the boundaries of traditional cinema, while also motivating a unique creativity through an ever expanding format.”

Be a part of the Festival at Sundance Film Festival and follow the Festival at Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Short Films/Episodic Projects

The 64 Short Films for the 2023 lineup were selected from 10,981 submissions, the highest number on record. Of these submissions, 4,996 were from the U.S. and 5,985 were international. The four Indie Episodic projects were selected from 519 submissions. This upcoming year’s Short Film program includes work from 23 countries and the Indie Episodic represents works from five countries.

Indie Episodic is an industry leader in the discovery and development of series’ newest talent. The program is a dedicated showcase for emerging creators of independently produced content for episodic platforms. Past projects that have premiered within this category include Bring on the Dancing Horses, Work in Progress, State of the Union, Gentefied, Wu Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men, and Quarter Life Poetry.

The Short Film program is the premiere exhibition of shorts across fiction, nonfiction, and animation, globally. From the start, the Institute has supported short filmmaking in all forms and styles, which now includes an impressive roster of artist alumni: Andrea Arnold, Lake Bell, Damien Chazelle, Destin Daniel Cretton, Jay and Mark Duplass, Debra Granik, Rashaad Ernesto Green, Reinaldo Marcus Green, Sterlin Harjo, Todd Haynes, Shaka King, Lynne Ramsay, Dee Rees, Joey Soloway, Taika Waititi, and many others

Below are some of the films that will be screened in each category presented at Sundance.

ANIMATION SHORT FILMS

BurgerWorld / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Maddie Brewer, Producers: Domitille Adebimpe-Collardey, Joseph Carnegie, Sierra Martin-Persi) — Two coworkers at a derelict fast food franchise accidentally discover a yonic meat portal to another realm — a “burger” world, wherein they’re the only ones who can liberate an oppressed vegetable populace from the all-controlling hand of big meat. Cast: Maddie Brewer. World Premiere. Available Online.

By Water / U.S.A. (Director: Iyabo Kwayana, Producers: Chris Hastings, Maori Karmel Holmes, Nevo Shinaar) — An unlikely hero’s journey into his own memories becomes a vehicle for reconciliation and healing for himself and his sibling. Available Online.

Christopher at Sea / France, U.S.A, U.K (Director and Screenwriter: Tom CJ Brown, Screenwriter: Laure Desmazières, Producers: Amanda Miller, Hanna Stolarski, Emily-Jane Brown, Nick Read, Pierre Boivin, Constance Le Scouarnec) — Christopher embarks on a transatlantic voyage as a passenger on a cargo ship. His hopes of finding out what lures so many men to sea sets him on a journey into solitude, fantasy, and obsession. Cast: Jocelyn Si, Andrew Isar, Florian DesBiendras. Available Online.

The Flying Sailor / Canada (Directors and Producers: Wendy Tilby, Amanda Forbis, Producer: David Christensen) — Two ships collide in a harbor, an explosion shatters a city, and a sailor is blasted skyward, where he soars high above the mayhem and toward the great unknown. Available Online.

Oxytocin / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Jeron Braxton) — Cash for organs and anything for love. Cast: Jeron Braxton. World Premiere. Available Online.

NONFICTION SHORT FILMS

Bigger on the Inside / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Angelo Madsen Minax, Producer: Lyle Ravi Kash) — Through snowy stargazing, flirting with guys on dating apps, taking ketamine (or not), and watching YouTube lecture videos, outer and inner space collapse – to draw a warped cartography of desire and distance. Available Online.

Kylie / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Sterling Hampton) — A young Black ballerina expresses her passion and pain as a dancer in the ballet community while performing in the inner-city neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Available Online.

Life Without Dreams / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Jessica Bardsley, Producer: Caitlin Mae Burke) — Set in the outer space of consciousness, where the surfaces of far-out planetary bodies form the terrain for an exploration of 24/7 capitalism, insomnia, and the disappearance of darkness. Available Online.

Life Without Dreams- Courtesy of Jessica Bardsley

Liturgy of anti-tank obstacles / U.S.A., Ukraine (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk, Producers: Soo-Jeong Kang, Daniel Lombroso, Oleksandra Sorokhan) — In western Ukraine, sculptors who used to make religious statues are retraining for different skills. They now build anti-tank obstacles to help fend off the Russian invasion. Available Online.

Under G-d / U.S.A. (Director and Producer: Paula Eiselt, Producer: Darcy McKinnon) — The Dobbs U.S. Supreme Court decision sparked a national Jewish response. Inspired by the lived experiences of Jewish women, lawsuits are currently being launched by rabbis, Jewish organizations, and interfaith leaders to challenge the overturning of Roe v. Wade. World Premiere.

INTERNATIONAL FICTION SHORT FILMS

AirHostess-737 / Greece (Director and Screenwriter: Thanasis Neofotistos, Screenwriter: Grigoris Skarakis, Producers: Ioanna Bolomyti, Dimitris Tsakaleas) — An air hostess collapses on flight, convinced that her problem is her new braces. However, her colleagues know the plane is carrying her mother’s dead body to her hometown. Cast: Lena Papaligoura, Konstantina Koutsonasiou, Haris Alexiou. U.S. Premiere. Available Online.

AliEN0089 / Chile (Director and Screenwriter: Valeria Hofmann, Producers: Augusto Matte, Daniela Camino, Pascual Mena) — While a gamer uploads a testimonial video to denounce the harassment she suffers in a video game, a stranger enters her home and hacks her computer, blurring the boundaries between the real and virtual worlds. Cast: Mariana di Girolamo. World Premiere.

Azheh / Iran (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Hadi Rezayati Charan, Producer: Mahdi Rezayati Charan) — A boy lives in a border village with Azheh. After Azheh’s death, the boy tries to fulfill her will to be buried in his homeland. Cast: Pakray Khoshdel, Arshiya Zeinali, Alireza Dashtiyari. World Premiere. Available Online.

Baba / Canada (Directors: Anya Chirkova, Meran Ismailsoy, Screenwriter and Producer: Maziyar Khatam, Producer: Anya Chirkova) — A middle-aged Iranian man makes a desperate bid to keep his apartment as his relationship with his son unravels. Cast: Amir Zavosh, Maziyar Khatam, James Choy, Sina Djamshidiat. International Premiere. Available Online.

Claudio’s Song / U.K. (Director: Andreas Nilsson, Screenwriter: David Kolbusz, Producers: Lee Groombridge, Tanya Sokolova) — A young man faces the wrath of criminals targeting people who are famous on the internet. Things take an unexpected turn when their scheme fails. Cast: Zaza Chanturia, Georgiy Palovotskiy, Alex Avakumov, Nina Naboka, Didier Mallet. Available Online.

U.S. FICTION SHORT FILMS

The Dalles / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Angalis Field, Producers: Madison Odenborg, Stacey Streshinsky) — Cam is used to seeing the same customers while working at his family’s cherry stand. After a handsome cyclist passes through and asks for directions to a local cruising site, Cam takes it as an invitation to follow him. Cast: Joshuah Melnick, August Ackley. World Premiere. Available Online.

The Family Circus / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Andrew Fitzgerald, Producer: Josh Cohen) — A Vietnamese-American family’s plan to cover up a drunk driving accident begins to unravel when their emotional baggage spills out in front of the police. Cast: Elyse Dinh, Michael Ironside, Scott Subiono, Michael Nguyen Manceau, Blake Dang, Christian Seavey. World Premiere. Available Online.

A Folded Ocean / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Ben Brewer, Producer: Emily Murnane) — A couple get lost in each other. Cast: Anabelle LeMieux, John Giacobbe. World Premiere. Available Online.

Headdress / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Taietsarón:sere ‘Tai’ Leclaire, Producer: David Spadora) — When a queer Native is confronted by a non-Native wearing a ceremonial headdress at a music festival, he retreats into his mind to find the perfect response from various versions of his own identity. Cast: Taietsarón:sere ‘Tai’ Leclaire, Sean Reidy, Rachel McKay Steele, Sami Griffith, Austin Pohlen. World Premiere. Available Online.

Help Me Understand / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Aemilia Scott, Producers: Paul Feig, Laura Fischer, Kesila Childers, Erica Fishman, Amy Geist) — Six women come to a consensus. Cast: Dana Powell, Dierdre Friel, Rachael Harris, Nicole Michelle Haskins, Kate Flannery, Ken Marino. World Premiere. Available Online.

INDIE EPISODIC

Chanshi / Israel (Directors: Mickey Triest, Aaron Geva, Producer: Ayelet Imberman ) — Chanshi is from a Jewish-Orthodox Brooklyn family. She uses the story of a friend’s wedding in Israel as a cover to escape her conservative bubble and fiance. Free to fulfill her forbidden fantasy of sleeping with Israeli soldiers, her trip triggers a past trauma threatening to ruin her adventures. Cast: Aleeza Chanowitz, Henry Winkler, Caroline Aaron, Tomer Machloof, Marnina Schon, Lee Bader. World Premiere. Available Online.

The Night Logan Woke Up / Canada, France (Director and Producer: Xavier Dolan) — On a cold October night in 1991, an unspeakable event rocks a small town in Quebec, forever haunting a family who tries to hide their dark secret. Thirty years later these secrets buried deep in the past resurface, sending the family on an unstoppable pursuit of reconciliation. Cast: Xavier Dolan, Patrick Hivon, Eric Bruneau, Julie Le Breton, Magalie Lépine-Blondeau, Anne Dorval. International Premiere. Available Online.

Poacher / India, U.S.A. (Director and Producer: Richie Mehta, Producers: Sean McKittrick, Raymond Mansfield, Edward H. Hamm Jr.) — A group of Indian Forest Service officers, NGO workers, police constables and Good Samaritans risk their lives trying to track down the biggest elephant ivory poachers in the history of India and bring them to justice. Inspired by true events. Cast: Nimisha Sajayan, Roshan Mathew, Dibyendu Bhattacharya. World Premiere. Available Online.

Willie Nelson and Family / U.S.A. (Directors: Thom Zimny, Oren Moverman, Producers: Keith Wortman, Mark Rothbaum, Eddie Vaisman, Julia Lebedev) — The first authorized work exploring the extraordinary life of Willie Nelson traverses the personal and career ups, downs, and in-betweens of one of the world’s most beloved musicians, by turns spiritual, dramatic, and playful. World Premiere. 2 of 5 Episodes Available Online.

The Sundance Film Festival®

The Sundance Film Festival, a program of the nonprofit, Sundance Institute, is the pre-eminent gathering of original storytellers and audiences seeking new voices and fresh perspectives. Since 1985, hundreds of films launched at the Festival have gone on to gain critical acclaim and reach new audiences worldwide. The Festival has introduced some of the most groundbreaking films and episodic works of the past three decades, including CODA, Hereditary, Call Me By Your Name, Get Out, The Big Sick, Mudbound, Fruitvale Station, Whiplash, Brooklyn, Precious, The Cove, Little Miss Sunshine, An Inconvenient Truth, Napoleon Dynamite, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and Reservoir Dogs.

The program consists of fiction and nonfiction features and short films, series and episodic content, emerging media, and performances, as well as conversations, and other events. The Festival takes place both in person in the state of Utah and online, connecting audiences across the U.S. to bold new artists and films. The 2023 Festival takes place January 19–29.

The Festival is a program of the nonprofit Sundance Institute.

To date, 2023 Festival sponsors include: Presenting Sponsors – Acura, AMC+, Chase Sapphire®, Adobe; Leadership Sponsors – Audible, DIRECTV, Netflix, Omnicom Group, Shutterstock, Stacy’s Pita Chips, United Airlines, XRM Media; Sustaining Sponsors – Canada Goose, Canon U.S.A., Inc., DoorDash, Dropbox, World of Hyatt®, IMDb, Lyft, MACRO, Rabbit Hole Bourbon & Rye, Stanley, University of Utah Health, White Claw Hard Seltzer; Media Sponsors – IndieWire, Los Angeles Times, NPR, Variety, Vulture, The Wall Street Journal. Sundance Institute recognizes critical support from the State of Utah as Festival Host State. The support of these organizations helps offset the Festival’s costs and sustain the Institute’s year-round programs for independent artists.

Check out TWE’s earlier post about new films that will be shown at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.

December 21, 2022

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Sundance Institute Announcement Recently, Sundance Institute announced the

Tamara Braun for NBC - Days of Our Lives

What to Watch

Days of Our Lives Shocker: Tamara Braun Exits as Ava Vitali

Ava’s latest stint in Salem is over.

Tamara Braun confirmed this week that she was exiting the Peacock daytime soap after two years back in the role.

“Hey all you Days fans!! If you want to see Ava off, tune into DOOL today for her last day in Salem,” she wrote.

“Thought I’d share some of my memories from the last (almost) two years,” the star added before sharing some behind-the-scenes moments.

“Starts at the end and ends at the start with my first nasal swab. Oh Covid!!”

“Thanks for all the love and support you continue to show me.”

“I will miss you all!! Wait, I’ll still be here, you can find me on IG!! Much love.”

Braun initially joined Days of Our Lives in 2008 and won her first daytime Emmy award for the role in 2009.

Braun previously returned to the series in 2011 in the role of Taylor Walker, taking over for Natalia Livingston.

The actress brought Ava back in 2015 as part of the series’ 50th-anniversary celebrations but departed in 2016.

The star then returned in 2020, and her final episode has aired, but since Tamara is never too far away from the show, we’re sure she’ll be back at some point.

The actress and character are fan favorites.

In addition to Days of Our Lives, Braun also starred in All My Children.

EJ Insists Ava is Alive - Days of Our Lives

“Fingers crossed we get to do more together in the future,” wrote Days of our Lives star Paul Telfer in the comments section of the post.

Days of Our Lives has had an exciting year.

The series moved from NBC to become a Peacock original, but the streaming service has yet to announce anything about its performance after leaving NBC behind.

What are your thoughts on the big exit?

Hit the comments below.

Check out Tamara’s post below.

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Avatar fans waited 13 long years for a sequel to premiere.

And it looks like the wait was well worth it because Avatar: The Way of Water already grossed $134 million opening weekend.

With a cast made up of familiar favorites alongside some new characters, I’ve rounded up exactly who plays who in the film. Take a look:

To start, Sam Worthington is officially back as Jake Sully.

One year after the first Avatar film came out, he starred as Perseus in Clash of the Titans.

And here’s what he looks like IRL.

But MCU diehards may know her best as Gamora in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise.

And here’s what she looks like IRL.

Stephen Lang is playing Colonel Miles Quaritch once again.

Outside the Avatar universe, horror fans will know him for portraying The Blind Man in 2016’s Don’t Breathe.

And here’s what he looks like IRL.

Sigourney Weaver won’t be reprising her role as Dr. Grace Augustine but will be introduced as a new character named Kiri.

If you’re familiar with Alien, then you might know her as Ripley.

And here’s what she looks like IRL.

Joel David Moore is back again as Norm Spellman.

Here’s what he looked like in the original Avatar.

And here’s a throwback to when he played Owen in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.

Kate Winslet plays Ronal.

Let’s take a walk down memory lane when she made a name for herself as Rose in Titanic.

And here’s what she looks like IRL.

Cliff Curtis plays Tonowari.

But if you were a fan of Fear the Walking Dead, you’ll probably know him as Travis.

And here’s what he looks like IRL.

Jemaine Clement plays Dr. Garvin.

He’s been featured as Vladislav in What We Do in the Shadows.

And as Kieran in 2010’s Dinner for Schmucks.

CCH Pounder is another alum returning as Mo’at (this is her in the first film).

She had a longtime recurring role on The Shield as Claudette Wyms.

And here’s what she looks like IRL.

Edie Falco plays General Ardmore.

Edie appeared in nearly 100 episodes of The Sopranos as Carmela, and here’s a look at her walking the red carpet for the Season 6 premiere in 2006.

And here’s what she looks like IRL.